Tobacco Free Press e-newsletter - June 2013

Reposted at http://tobaccodeathray.blogspot.com,

Follow the links below to access the full articles.

Secondhand Smoke
Study confirms deposits of toxic chemicals in thirdhand cigarette smoke

• Aggressive behavior linked specifically to secondhand smoke exposure in childhood
• A smoking ban in all Related Companies rental properties
• New fact sheet: Disclosure of smoking policies in multi-unit housing
• Oregon bans smoking in cars with kids (OR)
• Indoor smoking ban: Lawmaker says he's been promised a committee vote on his bill (PA)
• France to ban electronic cigarettes in public (France)
• Italy may ban smoking e-cigarettes in public places (Italy)
• Russia tries to kick habit with anti-smoking law (Russia)

Legal
State Supreme Judicial Court upholds award for compensatory damages but strikes down punitive award (MA)

• Vermont judge orders R.J. Reynolds to pay $8.3 million in penalties and stop deceptive advertising (VT)
• Legal Update, the newsletter of the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium
• Guide to online resources for researching individuals and organizations
   

Tobacco Pricing

• Tobacco tax may give boost to e-cigarettes (MN)
• Federal tobacco tax hike would reduce smoking, raise revenue and benefit lower-income Americans, new report finds
• Cigarette makers confirm price increases
• Cheaper chew? Kentucky's tax on chewing tobacco set to drop (KY)
• Massachusetts tobacco tax increase will save lives, protect kids (MA)
• Understanding tobacco industry pricing strategy and whether it undermines tobacco tax policy: the example of the UK cigarette market (United Kingdom)

Other Policy

• Report: Policy tool for minimizing public health and environmental effects of cigarette waste
• California Senate votes to regulate e-cigarettes (CA)
• Illinois Senate approves electronic cigarette ban for minors (IL)
• Employers get leeway on health incentives
• Fact sheet: Impact of sequestration and other budget changes on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• UK to start regulating e-cigarettes as medicines (United Kingdom)

Ohio Budget Bill (HB 59)

We have great news to share today!

The Ohio Budget Bill (HB 59) has been moving through the process and is now in Senate Finance Committee.  We know an amendment has been offered to equalize the Other Tobacco Products tax with the cigarette tax and to use some of the revenue to fund tobacco prevention.  Today, we had 5 superstars offer testimony in support in committee!  Special thanks to Liz Klein, Linda Diamond, Holly Kowalczk, Bruce Barcelo and Terry Allen!

Now, we need your support!  This weekend, leadership will be discussing all amendments.  We need to turn on the grassroots support for this issue. 

How can you help?  Encourage everyone you know to respond to the alert below.  Let’s make sure they hear from grassroots constituents on this issue.  Join the superstar status by helping the grassroots groundswell! 

If you want to be supernova status, you can also place a call into your Senator’s office.  (After you click on the link below, you can use the same messaging as in the e-alert.)  Be sure to let us know.  We want to give you credit!

During Linda’s testimony today, she shared the following:

“A very wise man once told me you should measure what you do by asking yourself “Will it matter in 50 years?”   Senators, what you do right now with equalizing tobacco taxes and providing programs and services to youth and adults will definitely matter in 50 years.” 

I think this applies to all of us as well.  It may be another email sent, but it truly can make a difference.  Let’s get this done! 

Thanks for your help!    

Cresha Auck Foley, MA
Government Relations Director, Ohio