Safer cigarettes one step closer
The federal government is one step closer to making cigarettes more fire-safe. On March 31, the government passed Bill C-260, which designates cigarettes as a dangerous product under the Hazardous Products Act. This designation is required before legislation forcing cigarette manufacturers to produce safer cigarettes can be passed.
With the bill passed, Health Canada is proposing regulations under the Tobacco Act that would require tobacco manufacturers to meet an ignition propensity standard for all cigarettes manufactured in Canada or imported for sale in Canada.
Ignition propensity is a measure of the ability of an ignition source, such as a cigarette, to ignite an object, such as a couch. Ignition propensity can be decreased by reducing the burn temperature of the cigarette or reducing the amount of fuel available to be burnt so that the cigarette extinguishes itself if left unused.
"Reduced ignition propensity does not mean fire-safe," said a statement released by Health Canada. "It is impossible to make a burning object completely fire-safe. However, Health Canada feels these regulations will save lives by significantly reducing the number of fires started by cigarettes."
Smokers' materials are the leading cause of fire-related fatalities across the country. The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs reported for the period 1995-1999 that at least 14,030 fires in Canada were started by smokers' materials, which includes cigarettes, cigars and pipes. These fires killed 356 people, injured 1,615 and cost more than $200 million in property damage. The victims of these fires are often among society's most vulnerable, such as children, the elderly and the poor.
The standard proposed by Health Canada is the same used by the State of New York. On December 31, 2003, New York became the first jurisdiction in the world to enact legislation mandating that the ignition propensity of cigarettes be reduced. By June 28, 2004 all cigarettes sold in New York had to have a standard of 25 per cent full length burns when tested on 10 layers of filter paper using ASTM method E2187-02b Standard Test Method for Measuring the Ignition Strength of Cigarettes.
In this test, a lit cigarette is placed on 10 layers of standard laboratory filter paper. The procedure is repeated 40 times and the per cent failures is calculated. Failure is defined as the cigarette burning its full length.
Under Health Canada's proposals, tobacco manufacturers would have the option to use the manufacturing process or technical design of their choosing to achieve the standard. Options available to manufacturers include:
1. Reducing tobacco density, thereby reducing the amount of available fuel.
2. Reducing paper porosity, which is related to a reduction in the availability of oxygen necessary to fuel the smoldering process.
3. Decreasing the circumference of cigarettes, which reduces the available tobacco, paper and the amount
of contact between the cigarette and the material that could light on fire.
4. Removing or reducing burn additives that enhance the burn rate of cigarette paper.
5. Putting "speed bumps" on cigarettes. Reduced ignition propensity cigarettes currently available in the U.S. and New Zealand use a patented paper, which has concentric bands of ultra-thin paper applied on top of traditional cigarette paper. The manufacturer claims that these bands or rings act as "speed bumps" to slow down the rate at which the cigarette burns as the lit end crosses over them.
If Health Canada's proposed regulations become legislation, Canada would be the first country in the world to have a national cigarette ignition propensity standard. The proposed regulations have entered the first phase of public consultation.
For more information on reduced ignition propensity cigarettes, visit www.gosmokefree.ca.
Excerpts of this article were taken from Health Canada's Web sites at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/media/releases/2004/2004_19bk1.htm, and http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/tobacco/legislation/rip/04.html.
Lit smokers' materials cause of most fire deaths
According to the OFM's statistical review of fire losses, the primary cause of fire deaths in Ontario is smokers' materials. As the graph on the right shows, between 1998 and 2002, these materials caused 38% of preventable fatal home fires and 38% of fire fatalities. Often, victims of these fires are children and adults living with people who smoke.
Between 1995-1999, the majority of fire deaths in Ontario that involved cigarettes resulted from one of two common scenarios. As described below, often, these scenarios also involved alcohol use.
Scenario #1
Property Type: Residential
Area of Fire Origin: Living area
Ignition Source: Lit smoking articles, matches or lighters
Object First Ignited: Upholstered furniture (13%), other objects (8%)
Time of Occurrence: Night
Victims: Asleep or impaired adults, children living with adults
Scenario #2
Property Type: Residential
Area of Fire Origin: Sleeping area
Ignition Source: Lit smoking articles, matches or lighters
Object First Ignited: Bedding (5%), other objects (5%)
Time of Occurrence: Night
Victims: Asleep or impaired adults, children living with adults
http://www.ofm.gov.on.ca/english/publications/messenger/2004/mayaugust2004.asp
Cigarette fires up 19% in U.S.
The number of fires in the United States caused by lighted tobacco products – almost always cigarettes increased by a stunning 19 percent in the most recent year studied, according to research by the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association). But laws requiring that cigarettes be designed to stop burning when not actively smoked could sharply reduce this destruction.
Cigarettes are the leading cause of fatal fires in Canada and the United States. In Ontario, smokers’ materials (including lighted tobacco products but not matches and lighters) led to one out of six fire deaths between 1998 and 2003, more than any other cause of fire. Yet, despite the American trend, the number of fires caused by cigarettes in Ontario is decreasing.
Contrary to the popular image, NFPA’s study shows that most victims of smoking-material fires in the U.S. did not fall asleep smoking. Many are not even smokers. Rather, these fires typically started when someone abandoned or improperly disposed of smoking materials.
Most victims were in the room where the fire started, and most had some condition that limited their ability to get out. Often they were asleep, but a significant number ere impaired by drugs or alcohol, or their mobility was reduced by
disability or old age. In the U.S., people older than 64 are more likely to die in smokers’ material fires than younger people, even though they are less likely to smoke.
The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs reported for the period 1995 99 that at least 14,030 fires in Canada were started by smokers’ materials. These fires killed 356 people, injured 1,615 and cost more than $200 million in property damage.
Cigarette fires are preventable. A cigarette must be touching something combustible to produce a fire. Cutting down the burning time of cigarettes will prevent fires.
Health Canada has proposed legislation that would require tobacco manufacturers to meet an ignition propensity standard for all cigarettes manufactured or imported for sale in Canada. Ignition propensity is a measure of the ability of an ignition source to ignite an object. The proposed legislation follows the federal government’s passing of Bill C-260 on March 31 which designates cigarettes as a dangerous product under the Hazardous Products Act.
Currently, the state of New York is the only jurisdiction in the world with legislation that mandates the ignition propensity of cigarettes. Starting June 28, cigarettes sold in New York must be self-extinguishing, and all cigarette brands must be tested to make sure they self-extinguish at least 75 percent of the time.
Excerpts of this article are reprinted from a media release distributed by the NFPA on July 16. For more information, visit the NFPA Web site at www.nfpa.org.
http://www.ofm.gov.on.ca/english/publications/messenger/2004/pdf/septoct2004.pdf
Teahouse must butt out: council -BC
A Persian teahouse is being told to comply with Burnaby's smoking by-laws.
Tuesday, Jan 25, 2005
The Hafez Tea House in north Burnaby can no longer offer hookah pipe smoking unless a separate ventilated room is built. The business is being told to obey city regulations despite the owners' assertion that hookah smoking tea and food service is traditionally offered in Persian teahouses.
Owners Abbas and Nasrin Adibi say their business is popular among Persian people because it replicates those found in Iran and other Middle East countries. They predict the business will not survive if they are unable to offer hookah pipe smoking.
Not only must they comply with Burnaby's smoking bylaw but the owners are required adhere to Workers' Compensation Bureau and Tobacco Sales Act regulations. WCB rules protect employees from second-hand smoke while the Tobacco Sales Act deals with the selling, distribution and promotion of tobacco products.
The owners of the teahouse approached Burnaby council earlier this month and asked for a business licence change that would allow smoking. Hookah smoking is an integral part of a Persian teahouse and the harm from hookah smoking is negligible, they said.
A city staff report presented Monday night states otherwise. According to studies done by the American Cancer Society and the Syrian Center of Tobacco Studies, not only does hookah smoking produce second hand smoking but is also harmful to the user.
Coun. Lee Rankin pointed out the Lower Mainland has the largest Persian population in Canada with 30,000 in the region. Being able to support the ethic group with a traditional teahouse would be ideal but smoking regulations must be enforced, he said.
One teahouse in Vancouver allows smoking, that's under review by Vancouver Coastal Health and the City.
http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=community/burnaby&articleID=1826853
Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants go smoke free -QC
NTR Tuesday, February 01, 2005
As of Tuesday, it's forbidden to smoke in the dining rooms of any of the 94 Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets in Quebec.
The management of the restaurant chain said that they fully support the recent announcement of Quebec Health Minister Philippe Couillard to modify the province's tobacco laws to ban smoking in restaurants by January 2006.
For the past year, 80 percent of the chain's restaurants have been smoke free. They employ 2,500 people across Quebec
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/business/story.html?id=a22a23ca-4e6f-4cfc-b5d1-0d994cb14321
Health Canada launches campaign to encourage parents to make their homes smoke-free
OTTAWA, Feb. 2 /CNW Telbec/ - Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh today launched a social marketing campaign aimed at getting parents to eliminate second-hand smoke in the home. The campaign consists of television advertisements and a booklet on how parents can make their home smoke-free.
This campaign is in response to research that showed that almost 50 per cent of smoking parents still smoke in their home and car. The research also indicated that while parents are aware of the dangers of second-hand smoke, there are many misconceptions about how to protect their children. Based on these results, Health Canada determined that a comprehensive campaign aimed at protecting children by eliminating second-hand smoke in the home was required.
"Many parents are not fully informed about how they can protect their children from second-hand smoke," said Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh. "The only way to fully protect children is to completely eliminate smoking in the home. Make your home smoke-free - don't let your children be a target."
Health Canada, working with the Canada Revenue Agency, will also create an insert, planned to be delivered with the March Child Tax Benefit mail-out. This insert will reach over one million homes and will inform parents about how they can minimize their children's exposure to second-hand smoke.
Over one million children are exposed to second-hand smoke every day. Children regularly exposed to second-hand smoke are at least 50 per cent more
likely to suffer damage to their lungs and breathing problems such as asthma, and have an increased risk of developing emphysema as an adult.
Every year, more than 45,000 Canadians die from disease or illness caused by using tobacco and at least 1,000 are non-smokers. In 1998, 55 boys and 41 girls under the age of one died as a result of second-hand smoke.
The primary mission of the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy (FTCS) is to reduce disease and death among Canadians. It recognizes that the key to success is comprehensive, integrated and sustained action, carried out in collaboration with all partners and directed at Canadians of all ages.
For information on how to make your home smoke-free or resources on how to quit smoking, go to www.GoSmokeFree.ca or call 1 800 O-Canada (1 800-622-6232).
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2005/02/c9941.html
Smoking ban not a problem, casino operator says
CBC News Last Updated Feb 4 2005 08:34 AM CST
REGINA – Fears that a province-wide smoking ban might be bad for business haven't materialized at Casino Regina, officials say.
Attendance at Casino Regina actually went up in the first few days after the Jan. 1 smoking ban went into effect.
Bill Davies, a spokesperson for the Crown corporation that operates casinos in Regina and Moose Jaw, predicts the smoking ban will be good for the gaming industry.
"We certainly look on the whole non-smoking policy by the government as a very positive thing," Davies said.
"We think it's good for the casino, and, on the public side, we think it's good to have a completely smoke-free facility."
However, officials say they will not know the full impact of the new law until they have more time to analyze their attendance numbers.
Davies said when the Moose Jaw casino went smoke-free last year, attendance numbers improved.
Three of the province's Indian-run casinos are allowing smoking. The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations says the casinos are on First Nations property and provincial laws don't apply.
The fourth Indian-run casino, Yorkton's, is smoke-free.
Some hotel and bar operators have complained in recent weeks that they're losing business and having two sets of smoking rules is unfair.
http://sask.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=casinos-smoking050204
Notice to the Media - Update - Health Canada
OTTAWA, Feb. 4 /CNW Telbec/ - Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh will be the keynote speaker at The Canadian Mental Health Association BC Divison's "Bottom Line Conference: Depression, Anxiety Disorders and Addictions in the Workplace".
Media are invited to attend the Minister's address followed by a Q&A session for conference participants.
Following this lunchtime event, Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones, will join Minister Dosanjh and will be available to the media.
Date ---- Friday, February 4, 2005
Time ---- Keynote Address & Participant Q&A Session 12 :30 p.m.
Location ------ Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre Park View Terrace Room Suite 200, 999 Canada Place Vancouver, BC
For further information: Media Inquiries: Adele Blanchard, Office of the Minister of Health, (613) 957-0200; Mykle Ludvigsen, Public Education and Communications Officer, Canadian Mental Health Association BC, Division, (604) 688-3234, Cell: (604)715-0911
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2005/04/c0669.html
Winter smog afflicting southern Quebec, Ontario
CBC NewsFri, 04 Feb 2005
MONTREAL - A thick winter smog blanketing southeastern Quebec and much of southern Ontario because of unusually warm weather is unlikely to lift before some time next week.
In Quebec, pollution levels in the air are three times the normal level for this time of year, and Ontario's Environment Ministry has issued its first-ever smog alert in the month of February.
Public health officials say the smog can cause health problems for people with heart and lung disease, and could even lead to deaths among those with serious breathing conditions.
André Cantin, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, says the smog is made up of extremely small particles.
"It will get into the lungs, and people more sensitive to that may have some breathing problems," he said.
During smog alerts, people with heart and lung conditions, as well as the elderly and small children, are advised to stay indoors as much as possible and avoid strenuous exercise.
Both Environment Canada and public health officials say industrial sources still contribute most to smog, but they also point to a boom in the installation of fireplaces in types of residences that never had them before.
"New condominiums that are going up, they're all equipped with fireplaces," said Norman King, an epidemiologist who works with Montreal's department of public health.
"It seems to be a more popular phenomenon, so what we ask people to do during the smog alert is to stop using their wood-burning apparatus."
Ontario's Ministry of the Environment says there's a 50 per cent probability of smog conditions continuing over the next three days in southern parts of the province, including Toronto.
The department says a strong high-pressure ridge will likely remain over southern and eastern parts of the province for several days, resulting in very light winds and poor dispersion conditions
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/02/04/winter-smog050204.html
* video report as well
* can ban on fireplaces be next hurdle low income families have to face??
AIDS task force expanding food pantry program -PA
The Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force said Friday it will expand the program that provides groceries to people who have AIDS or are HIV-positive, thanks to a $10,000 grant from cigarette-maker Altria Group Inc.
The nonprofit task force's food pantry program buys dairy, fresh produce and high-protein items it says are largely unavailable from other food banks.
The grant from Altria (NYSE:MO), which owns Philip Morris USA, helps the task force serve more than 20,000 meals a year and reduce the price per meal from $2.70 to $1.45.
The AIDS task force says an average of 250 people per month visit the food pantry.
http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2005/01/31/daily50.html
Street backs smoking ban -PA
'Wave of the future,' he says of bill
By MARK McDONALD Fri, Feb. 04, 2005
A few years ago Mayor Street was sitting in a restaurant's no-smoking section when a guy a few tables away unleashed a stinking cigar. "It was a terrible experience," he recalled.
It proved to Street once and for all the abject failure of attempts to cordon off smokers from non-smokers.
Yesterday, Street sent legislation to City Council, introduced by Councilman Michael Nutter, that bans smoking in all public places, with minor exceptions.
"For me, the pivotal question is the employees. How do you protect employees?" Street said. In today's environment, a restaurant patron can stay away from a smoky restaurant-bar, Street said. The waiters, barkeeps and cooks are another story.
In 2000, Nutter pushed a smoking-ban bill that eventually was watered down and stalled. Since then, the anti-smoking lobby has grown. Nutter cited a January poll sponsored by the Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco, which found that 76 percent of city residents support smoke-fee policies in the workplace.
But although Nutter quickly garnered the signatures of eight colleagues as co-sponsors, Council opponents and skeptics responded that the legislation would hurt restaurants and taverns.
"I'm against it big time," said nonsmoker Councilman Rick Mariano. "We're trying to legislate things that we shouldn't be involved in." He said the bill would "cut the throats" of many businesses.
"If the place allows smoking, then I've got to make a decision about whether I go in there or not," he said.
Majority Leader Jannie Blackwell, also a nonsmoker, said she too feared the impact on business.
But Street said similar laws in other cities have not resulted in the damage that they fear.
"There's a natural reservation about doing anything that might have the impact of losing one or more customers," Street said. "But I think they will quickly learn that if nobody allows smoking, then they are not at any disadvantage."
In time, Street said, "People who go to the restaurants in this city will just accept the fact that if you want to have a smoke, get that last puff before you go in. I think progressive cities all over the country are doing it. It's the wave of the future, and I don't think we should be bringing up the rear on it."
The biggest exception in the bill is a requirement that hotels and motels can reserve up to 25 percent of their rooms for smoking customers. A food or beverage establishment with 15 percent of its sales in tobacco-related products and tobacco-distribution businesses are exempt.
Signing as co-sponsors were Council President Anna Verna, Marian Tasco, Donna Miller, Brian O'Neill, Blondell Reynolds Brown, Wilson Goode and Frank Rizzo. Nutter said he hoped all seven would vote along with him for the final bill, assuring passage. But Street said he didn't think there were enough votes now.
Street said the hearing process must attract large numbers of supporters to carry the day with fence-sitting Council members.
"The people who want a smoking ban have to say to the City Council members, 'We want a smoking ban. It's a good thing to do in this city... '
"They are going to have to be heard on this. We aren't going to be able to do this by my picking up a phone and calling people."
But for Nutter, rarely on the same side of a controversial issue with Street, the mayoral presence is large.
"We are enthusiastic and encouraged and again having strong support from Mayor Street will make the critical difference," he said.
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/breaking_news/10813590.htm?1c
Lawmaker Calls For Ban On Restaurant Smoking -NC
February 4, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Showing just how far tobacco has fallen out of favor as a pillar of North Carolina's economy, a state lawmaker has introduced a bill to eliminate smoking in indoor restaurants across the state.
The proposal by state Rep. Hugh Holliman, D-Davidson, calls for a ban on smoking in "all establishments substantially engaged in the business of preparing and serving meals." That would include any bar or lounge area attached to a restaurant.
"People have the right to eat and drink in an environment that is smoke-free. I personally hate to sit down in a restaurant next to someone who is smoking," Holliman told NBC-17.
"This is a pro-health bill, not an anti-tobacco bill."
Holliman is a former smoker who beat lung cancer.
But the idea, which will be debated in committee next week, is quickly renewing old battle lines between smokers and non-smokers.
"It has to do with freedom," Knightdale resident and long-time smoker Jim Kassick said. "It's just something I enjoy. You can't smoke at work. I should be able to do it when I'm not at work."
Paige Wallington said non-smokers like her should be completely separated from smokers while eating in restaurants.
"If they separate the areas far enough away from people who are trying to eat and don't want smoke, I think that would be fine. Everybody gets what they want," Wallington said.
Travis Scarbourough, an assistant manager at a Raleigh restaurant, said he tries to accommodate both groups to ensure all customers are happy.
"I think there should definitely be a divided area," Scarbourough said. "But I think there should also be an option for smokers who come into an establishment. They should be able to enjoy a cigarette after their dinner."
http://www.nbc17.com/health/4167637/detail.html
Tobacco Farmers Turn New Leaf -NC
Quota Buyout Leaves Many With Difficult Choices February 4, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. -- As North Carolina tobacco farmers try to adjust to life after government allotments, Joe Atkins has taken to the road to defend his livelihood.
The Mount Airy farm supply dealer is driving a mobile billboard, funded by tobacco farmers and other suppliers, that extols freedom of choice for those who grow golden leaf.
"Certainly tobacco has some negative sides, but it also has positive sides -- billions of tax dollars generated, schools built with tobacco money," Atkins said. "I challenge anybody in the state of North Carolina to show me one profession or one job that tobacco doesn't touch some way, somehow.
"We don't want kids to smoke. We would like U.S. farmers to grow U.S. tobacco as long as it's legal and not tax them out of business."
More: Smoking Ban Proposed | Cigarette Tax Eyed
State lawmakers are discussing the possibility of raising the 5-cents-per-pack cigarette tax to $1.20 per pack to help close a $1 billion budget deficit.
Some 10,000 farmers across North Carolina have grown tobacco in recent years, but with the recent $10 billion federal buyout of the quota growing system, no one is sure how many will continue with the crop or move on to something else.
"It's a fresh beginning," 7th District Congressman Mike McIntyre said. "Those who want to continue farming in the free enterprise system and contract with tobacco companies will be able to do that. Those who don't want to now have the tentacles of federal government taken away from the control of their own property and they can do with it as they wish."
The buyout will inject $4 billion to North Carolina's economy -- farmers should begin receiving checks in March -- but without the safety of federal price supports, smaller farmers will be forced either to contract with big tobacco companies or take a chance growing other products.
Graham Boyd, of the North Carolina Tobacco Growers Association, said the new system offers tremendous potential for leaf farmers.
"I think, moving forward, as price adjusts relative to the world market, there's a great opportunity to see farmers have a chance to grow more acres than they were in the past," Boyd said.
http://www.nbc17.com/news/4167739/detail.html
House Gives Nod To Burley Settlement Money -KY
Greg Stotelmyer Action News 36 Political Reporter Feb 4,
By a 92-0 vote, the Kentucky House today approved a bill that funds $114 million of $124 million in tobacco settlement payments burley growers and quota holders around the state have been waiting for since late December. The 163,000 checks are overdue because cigarette companies have been told by a judge they do not have to make their final payments, leaving the state to figure out how to cover the cost.
The measure, which mixes a combination of current and bonded funds from the agriculture development fund, now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
http://www.wtvq.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WTVQ/MGArticle/TVQ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031780648572&path=
Fletcher defends his tax proposal -KY
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Gov. Ernie Fletcher defended his proposal to overhaul Kentucky's tax code Friday, and said it was best for the state's economic future.
"It gives us the continuing opportunity to make this state more attractive," Fletcher told reporters. "It sends a very strong message out to individuals that would be attracted to Kentucky."
Fletcher has proposed overhauling the state's tax code by increasing some taxes and lowering others.
Among other changes, taxes would increase for items such as cigarettes, alcohol and satellite television. Meanwhile, taxes would decrease for some low-income people and the top income tax rate would shrink from the current 6 percent to 5.45 percent by 2008.
Critics have called the plan unfair and fiscally shaky, saying it is too dependent on higher cigarette taxes to balance income tax cuts for companies and individuals.
The day after Fletcher announced his proposal, some legislators put forth an alternative tax plan that would dramatically increase taxes on businesses and wealthy individuals, while reducing the burden on more poor people.
But Fletcher said his plan would boost Kentucky's economy by attracting more companies and encouraging its college-educated youth to remain in the state upon graduation.
"What I have proposed is let's change the tax system to attract more people and grow here," Fletcher said. "That's the way we grow the economy. You grow the pie."
House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, said the Democratic-lead chamber will work from Fletcher's tax proposals, but predicted changes would be made.
Richards said the House would not approve legislation that included a "trigger" that would cap future revenue receipts without legislative action, as Fletcher has proposed.
http://www.wkyt.com/Global/story.asp?S=2903246
Dear Editor,
The Mississippi Democratic Club is urging state leaders to see that no Mississippian is cut from the Medicaid program.
It is inconceivable that state leaders would consider balancing the budget by removing health care from the sickest, poorest and the most vulnerable people in Mississippi - the elderly and disabled.
We urge Mississippians to contact their legislators to push for passage of the proposed legislation to increase the cigarette tax to enable us to provide continued coverage for our Poverty Level, Aged and Disabled Medicaid recipients (PLADs). The current state excise tax on cigarettes is 18 cents, the lowest in the nation. The average state excise tax is 84 cents. No new taxes is not the solution!
In one of the poorest states in the country, where one in four Mississippians are on Medicaid, one would think that our governor and the Legislature could come up with a better idea to balance the budget than lopping 65,000 poverty level aged and disabled human beings from the medical care and medication they need. We call upon our state legislature to stand up for a cigarette tax.
Until health care is made affordable for everyone, it is unconscionable to strip these Mississippians from coverage. It is a death sentence for many. How can we accept this decision from a governor who pledges "no new taxes," who won't tax cigarettes or affluent friends but will cut poor people off from medical care?
Depriving the elderly, disabled, children and poverty level Mississippians of health care is not the way to balance the state budget. We urge you to join with us to help our people by calling your legislator today to support the cigarette tax.
Ann Williams, co-chairwoman
Mississippi Democratic Club
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1377&dept_id=172925&newsid=13894157&PAG=461&rfi=9
Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson finished a three-day tour in support of an 80-cent increase on tobacco products in the state, an increase she said was the only way to fully fund the state's Medicaid programs.
Gov. Tom Vilsack introduced his budget Monday, which included the cigarette tax with plans to use the additional money to cover a $100 million Medicaid shortfall.
"Here's a way to increase revenues for Medicaid that's not about reducing services," Pederson said. "We're doing a good job of cost containment. We're as cost-effective as we're going to get."
She said Iowa spends 13 percent of its general fund budget to fund health-care for low-income people, while the national average state Medicaid spending is around 23 percent.
Opponents of the cigarette tax increase, including Rep. Jim Kurtenbach, a Republican from Nevada, object to the increase in spending as well as changing just one of the state's taxes.
"Nothing in isolation," Kurtenbach said. "We've been down that road so many times."
Pederson said programs that are now considered optional services for low-income people eligible for Medicaid, including dental work, optometry, and mental health care, would benefit from the cigarette tax increase.
Pederson spoke at the Mid-Iowa Community Action Center in front of a backdrop printed with the words "Health Care Security for Iowans." Within the Community Action Center building is the Story County Community Dental Clinic.
Pat Hildebrand, director of health services for the center, said Medicaid funding would help support the clinic. In 2004, more than 900 reduced-cost dental visits were completed by clinic volunteers.
County Supervisors Jane Halliburton and Wayne Clinton, both Democrats, attended Pederson's brief speech.
The state-wide tour included visits to Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, Waterloo, and Mason City.
http://www.amestrib.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2035&dept_id=238095&newsid=13893492&PAG=461&rfi=9
Add 21p onto a pint and 'save 600 lives a year' -UK
LOUISE GRAY
AN EXTRA 21 pence on a pint of beer would save more than 600 people in Scotland from alcohol-related deaths every year, researchers say.
Experts estimate a 10 per cent rise in alcohol prices across the UK would produce a drop of 28.8 per cent in male deaths and 37.4 per cent in female deaths from alcohol dependence and poisoning, and a fall in deaths from cirrhosis of 7 per cent in men and 8.3 per cent in women.
In Scotland, where a pint costs, on average, £2.12 and 1,448 men and 532 women died in 2003 from an alcohol related condition, projections show a price hike would save 417 men and 198 women.
Writing in the medical journal The Lancet, experts say governments across the world - including Scotland - must do more to cut drinking levels.
They say alcohol is linked to 60 medical conditions and is just as destructive as smoking and high blood pressure.
Overall, 4 per cent of the global burden of disease is attributable to alcohol, 4.1 per cent to tobacco and 4.4 per cent to high blood pressure.
Professor Robin Room, of the Centre for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs at Stockholm University, who led the research, said governments need to be as strict on drinking as on smoking. They should bring in tighter licensing laws and higher taxes.
"A stark discrepancy exists between research findings about the effectiveness of alcohol control measures and the policy options considered by most governments. In many places, the interests of the alcohol industry have effectively exercised a veto over policies, making sure that the main emphasis is on ineffective strategies such as education."
Jack Law, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, said a 50 per cent drop in alcohol prices over the last 20 years has led to an increase in alcohol-related diseases.
He said: "The relative pricing of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks should be addressed to discourage excessive alcohol intake.
"More effective regulation of alcohol advertising and cheap price promotions is needed to clamp down on those encouraging binge drinking."
But Colin Wilkinson, secretary of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said a hike in prices was unlikely to affect consumption.
"If you simply put alcohol up to a ridiculous price, it would just drive the whole thing underground. There is already a big enough problem with bootlegging."
This week, First Minister Jack McConnell prompted a furore after telling schoolchildren it was all right to get drunk "once in a while". He claimed that he was referring to adult drinking.
The Executive is bringing in a number of measures to combat problem drinking and laws will be introduced in 2007.
Meanwhile, Westminster legislation taking effect on Monday will allow pubs, bars, off-licences and nightclubs to remain open around the clock, raising concern in some quarters about the increasing ease of access to alcohol in society.
http://news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=132292005
R.J. Reynolds Says Appellate Ruling Dramatically Transforms DOJ Lawsuit; Government Cannot Seek Disgorgement
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A federal appellate court today ruled that the U.S. government cannot continue to seek disgorgement from the tobacco industry in the suit filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the nation's major cigarette manufacturers. In doing
so, the court struck down the DOJ's claim that the manufacturers could be forced to disgorge $280 billion because of past racketeering activity.
"We are extremely pleased that the appellate court agreed with our long- held belief that disgorgement is not an appropriate remedy in civil RICO suits, such as this," said Charles A. Blixt, executive vice president and general counsel for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, on today's ruling by the U.S. District Court of Appeal for the District of Columbia. "This ruling dramatically transforms the DOJ suit.
"While we continue to believe that no remedies are warranted under the facts of this case," he said, "with the threat of disgorgement removed, the principal remedies still available to the government are forward-looking measures. These would include marketing and sales restrictions already put in place by our company and others under the Master Settlement Agreement."
In its ruling that the lower district court erred, the appellate court found that " ... we can find no justification for considering any order of disgorgement ... " Adding, "We need not twist the language to create a new remedy not contemplated by the statute."
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (R.J. Reynolds) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc. (NYSE: RAI). R.J. Reynolds is the second-largest tobacco company in the United States, manufacturing about one of every three cigarettes sold in the United States. R.J. Reynolds' product line includes five of the nation's 10 best-selling cigarette brands: Camel, Winston, Kool, Salem and Doral. For more information about R.J. Reynolds, visit the company's Web site at http://www.RJRT.com .
SOURCE R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Web Site: http://www.RJRT.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/02-04-2005/0002951231&EDATE=
* this is the actual judgment ruling http://junkscience.com/feb05/US_v_PM.pdf
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MySmokersRights.com enables adults supporting smokers' rights to become aware of and quickly respond to excise tax increase proposals, smoking bans and other smokers' rights issues. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company wants to help smokers get more involved, because if they do, they can be successful in stopping unfair cigarette tax hikes and smoking bans. More than 46 million adult Americans smoke cigarettes, and we believe a larger number of them will become active in protecting their rights by making the resources of MySmokersRights.com available to them.
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http://www.rjrt.com/TI/TIaboutSmokersRights.asp
EU commissioner backs tougher smoking restrictions across Europe
04/02/2005
EU Health Commissioner Marcos Kyprianou said Friday that he would like to see continent-wide introduction of tough restrictions on smoking like those in force in Ireland and Italy but admitted he lacked the powers.
Kyprianou said he "completely backed" bans on smoking in all enclosed public places like those adopted in the two EU member countries.
"I encourage this but I can't impose legislation," said the EU health and consumer protection chief.
"It is a question of protecting the non-smokers whom, however strange it may seem, make up a very large majority in the member states."
Kyprianou, who is Cyprus's first representative on the EU executive since the island's accession to the enlarged 25-nation bloc in May last year, said he was disappointed by the "high percentage of smokers" in his homeland.
He also complained of a lack of "satisfactory" statistics on smoking-related diseases in Cyprus and held out the possibility of EU funding for such research.
"There is a capability given by the health programme of my services to fund studies and research on cancer and other diseases connected to smoking," he told reporters after talks with Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos.
Kyprianou revealed that he had pressed both Papadopoulous and Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker to set an example by giving up smoking themselves.
"I hope they both adopt my suggestion," he said, adding that the Cyprus president had at least managed to forego a cigarette for the duration of their meeting.
http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/050204185157.c6yxae6t
Berkeley Daily Planet
Edition Date: Friday, February 4, 2005
Mayor Brown Takes Wrong Turn with Parolee Curfew By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR Column
UNDERCURRENTS OF THE EAST BAY AND BEYOND (02-04-05)
In recent years, with the active cooperation of its local elected officials, Oakland has become something of a constitutional rights experimental ground for California. The idea has been to implement laws of dubious constitutionality—applicable to Oakland and only Oakland—to see if they work, how they work, and, perhaps, if they can be gotten away with. And so, among other things, Oaklanders have endured (thanks to Mayor Jerry Brown) the suspension of certain state environmental protections under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) that are available to every other California city. In addition, we’ve had Senator Don Perata’s Sideshow Red Queen Justice Car Seizure Act (called the U’Kendra Johnson law) in which the city is allowed to confiscate cars for 30 days solely on the word of a police officer—without a prior hearing—that someone had been spinning donuts in the car. One would think that like the villagers in the Frankenstein movies, Oaklanders would get fed up, storm the castle, and drive these legal monsters out. Why that hasn’t happened (yet) is a story for another day.
In any event, this sawing at the foundation poles of the Constitution may soon become a problem for Californians as a whole, as Mayor Brown is now promising to take the latest version of this show on the road.
A recent Heather MacDonald Oakland Tribune article on the mayor’s planned run for California Attorney General in 2006 ends on an interesting note. “If elected,” the last paragraph reads in part, “Brown said he … may work to expand Oakland’s curfews for those on parole or probation throughout the state.” Mr. Brown is advancing that thought already, even though the Tribune, in the same article, says Oakland Deputy Police Chief Pete Dunbar believes it “could be” six months to a year before the results of Oakland’s curfew are even known.
Oh, what a hurry we are in when election time rolls around and these days, it seems, election time is always rolling around.
For Californians—and even some Oaklanders—who may not know what the curfew is all about, a short summary is in order.
In a deal apparently worked out last year between Mayor Brown, the Oakland Police Department, and the Alameda County Probation Department—but not the Oakland City Council—people paroled in Oakland must agree, as a condition of their parole, to be confined to their homes between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. until their years of parole are over. Mayor Brown tells the Tribune that he came up with the plan because, according to the mayor, 80 percent of homicides in the city involve felons who are on probation and parole, and 70 percent of homicides occur at night. And according to the Tribune, an Oakland Police Department representative “believes the curfew could help curb ‘sideshows’ … and violence and burglaries.” (It was the Tribune which put the quotation marks around the term sideshows, which they defined in this article as “displays of reckless driving on city streets.”) Anyways, the provisions only apply to Oakland probationers. The State Parole Board has not made a decision on using the Oakland curfew as a condition for parolees.
It is difficult to see where Mr. Brown gets his information that 80 percent of Oakland homicides involve felons who are on probation and parole, since, we are told, most Oakland homicides go unsolved. But while we’re waiting for him to explain, we’ll move on.
One of the principles of American justice—before it got trampled in the cages of Guantanamo, at least—is that individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and that punishment ought to extend only to people actually convicted of a particular crime, not to people who might belong to a certain class.
Keeping that in mind, let us do some quick math. Last year, there were 88 homicides in Oakland. Using that 80 percent parolee/probationer figure given by Mr. Brown (even though we’ve yet to hear where he gets it from), that would mean that 70 of these murders were committed by parolees or probationers. Even if each of these 70 murders were committed by a different individual, that leaves a pretty significant number of parolees or probationers who didn’t kill anybody in Oakland last year, but who are still subject to Mr. Brown’s new curfew law. According to state statistics, there were some 2,500 parolees living in Oakland as of last summer; that doesn’t even take into account the number of people in the city out on probation.
But let’s follow this road a little further. If Mr. Brown and the Oakland Police Department believe every one of these 2,500 parolees is a likely candidate to commit a murder or a violent assault—and I don’t share that belief—why in God’s name would we want to lock these parolees up in their homes?
Confining these 2,500 Oakland parolees in their homes all night isn’t going to curb any violent tendencies they may have, for those of them who do have violent tendencies. It isn’t going to lessen the tensions and social and economic pressures they might feel that lead to such violence, or limit access to the liquid or smokable stimulants that fuel the fire. And if the pressure builds inside those 2,500 parolees’ houses, and they cannot get outside to movies or nightclubs or just driving around to blow off steam, and these parolees boil over and explode, where does one think that explosion is going to be directed?
Another quick statistic, since we’re reciting them. In the year 2000 there were a little over 2,300 domestic violence-related calls for assistance reported by the Oakland Police Department, almost 300 of them involving the use of weapons of some kind. The report did not specify whether the victims of the violence were wives or children.
Mr. Brown, in his typically breezy way of making light of serious social problems that might result from his proposals, tells the Tribune that he believes “it’s very (beneficial) for these probationers and parolees to spend time in their homes.” Yes, but not under house arrest. It’s bad to be in the predicting business, but I’ll take a chance and predict that the longer Mr. Brown’s parolee curfew goes on, the more those domestic violence numbers are likely to rise, even if all of the parolees are not as violent as Mr. Brown appears to believe. How many Oakland women are going to be beaten or killed because their husband couldn’t get out of the house during an argument just to stand on the corner for 15 minutes and smoke a cigarette?
Having lived for many years with a man who actually did have such violent tendencies that got played out in the home (see “No Charges In Mayoral Aide’s Dispute; Police Chief Responded To Call Of Fight Between Brown Confidant Barzaghi, Wife” by Heather MacDonald and Harry Harris, Oakland Tribune, July 17, 2004), Mr. Brown ought to know a little about this subject.
This is one that needed a little more thought.
http://www.berkeleydaily.org/text/article.cfm?issue=02-04-05&storyID=20668
Judge clears air on anti-smoking petition
Lahontan Valley News, NV - 8 hours ago
... Really, should it take this much legal effort to clear the air of cigarette smoke? Only in Nevada, because of the ubiquitous slot ... http://news.google.ca/news?q=cigarette&num=50&hl=en&lr=&output=search&ie=UTF-8&scoring=d&start=400&sa=N
Burned by the Internet -IL
By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer Friday, February 4, 2005
Dave Barrett believes his dream of owning his own business went up in smoke, thanks to the Internet.
The Darby Pipe Shop on Broadway Avenue closed Monday after 60 years of selling tobacco products and pipes in Mattoon. Barrett was the fourth owner of the business that had relocated three times over the decades.
The 50-year-old Barrett was thanking old customers for their loyalty late last week and promising to share his "recipes" for pipe tobacco with a pipe shop in Champaign. Bearded and stout, he choked up after one of the customers offered a hearty farewell.
"I wanted to make sure my customers could still get what they wanted," Barrett said, pointing to glass jars nearly empty of tobacco with labels reading Dutchflake, Royal Darby and Havana Ribbon.
Some of the recipes date back to the original owner, Royal Aten, who operated the shop on the east end of the business district in Mattoon.
The business also moved a few doors down several years ago from the corner of 19th Street and Broadway.
"One guy came in and bought eight pounds of what he was smoking," said Barrett of the loyalty to the pipe blends.
He has had a run on his inventory, including cigars, but for months his business was fading away. Barrett points toward Internet shopping as being too habit-forming for smokers.
"If they were looking for a particular brand of cigar out there then they might come into my place and just see 30 different boxes. That was a much smaller selection than what they could find on the Internet," Barrett said.
Besides, the cyber-smokers did not have to leave the house, Barrett said. "That really puts a hurt on small businesses like mine," he said.
The power of the Internet business has increased several fold in the last few years. Forester Research predicts that United States online retail sales will reach $229 billion by 2008. If true, that would amount to 10 percent of all U.S. retail sales.
But is the Internet killing off small businesses? Actually, there are many cases of smaller business entities enhancing their sales through Internet orders.
"Overall, the Internet can be a boon to business," said Todd Maisch, vice president of governmental affairs with the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce. "For every business that has been hurt by competition from the Internet, others are benefiting from more efficient operations."
Maisch said small business owners should seek qualified consultants on setting up online business operation, no matter the size. "They need to look at the Internet as an opportunity, not a threat."
Barrett said his business might have also suffered from new smokers not learning to exhale. The art of smoking pipes and cigars is not inhaling.
"With cigarettes, inhaling is a very bad habit to break," said Barrett. He first picked up smoking pipes, not cigarettes, during his teen years while camping with friends on the Kaskaskia River near Sullivan, his hometown.
"We did it to keep the ‘skeeters' off us," Barrett said.
Of course, smoking pipes and cigars is a deliberative process, compared to cigarette smoking.
"You need some time to smoke them. You just don't take a break out back," Barrett said.
Time is not a worry for him now. He is moving back to Sullivan, where he might do some fishing.
Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.
http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2005/02/04/features/feat51.txt
Woodcrest staffers protest smoking ban IN
By JOE SPAULDING Friday, February 4, 2005
To smoke or not to smoke, that is the question raised in a letter signed by 33 staff members at the Woodcrest Nursing Facility and presented to members of the Adams Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees.
Marvin L. Baird, executive director of the organization, told board members at their meeting this week that he received the letter from employees who are concerned over a recent decision by trustees to make all organizations of the Adams Health Network smoke-free.
He said over 200 employees work at Woodcrest, but he called the number of signatures on the letter "significant."
Following a discussion, no change in the policy was forthcoming.
A copy of the letter was not distributed, but was read at the meeting and it noted that quite of few of the employees "choose to participate in a legal activity (smoking)."
The letter made reference to the fact that employees who smoke do so of their own accord and they are quite familiar with possible lifelong health consequences caused by smoking.
Nicotine, an addictive substance found in tobacco, "is a legal substance" the letter also emphasized.
The letter questioned whether or not the hospital board planned to ban other "legal activities," such as eliminating any form of caffeine in food or beverages or perhaps even stopping employees who are overweight from eating meals or snacks during their normal shift at Woodcrest.
The letter continued to note that many employees find that taking a quick cigarette break "alleviates stress" and being able to smoke on the grounds at Woodcrest is a "cost-free perk" that employees desire to have.
Baird said, "We have made a decision to go with no smoking on site. There will always be opposition to any change you make."
Board member Vic Porter, whose Thunderbird industrial plant in Decatur employs over 600 people, said his establishment is a smoke-free workplace and encouraged Baird and other hospital officials to contact his plant officials for more information about maintaining a smoke-free business.
There are eight hospitals in the state of Indiana that currently have smoke-free status, according to Baird.
The letter pointed out that Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne tried to go smoke-free, but has relented under pressure from employees and others.
Board members indicated at the meeting that they are currently unwilling to make a change in the status of Adams Health Network facilities regarding smoking.
http://www.decaturdailydemocrat.com/articles/2005/02/04/news/news/news02.txt
Inmate garners more charges for allegedly setting off sprinkler -MO
By Linda Redeffer ~ Southeast Missourian
A Sedgewickville, Mo., man in the Cape Girardeau County Jail awaiting an April jury trial was bound ov
