Campaign bucks from big tobacco hit record
Oct 3, 2007, 11:58
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Cigarette companies have poured a record $6.6 million into defeating a proposed tobacco tax increase, making the ballot measure campaign the most expensive in Oregon history. "And it's only Oct. 2," said House Majority Leader Dave Hunt, D-Gladstone. "The really amazing part is, they've still got time to go." The previous record -- for a full campaign -- was the $5.6 million that insurer Liberty Northwest spent in 2004 trying unsuccessfully to get rid of Saif Corp. Only two statewide measures are on this year's Nov. 6 ballot: Measure 50 would raise taxes on a pack of cigarettes by 85 cents to pay for children's health insurance and other health programs. Measure 49 would revise state land-use law. Both are expensive. As of Tuesday, state reports show more than $12 million has already been raised to influence Oregon voters. The tobacco campaigns defend the spending. "The bottom line is Oregonians deserve to know exactly what they're swallowing with this measure, and if it takes that type of money to get that message out, so be it," said J.L. Wilson, a spokesman for the Reynolds American campaign. "There's nothing wrong with spending that kind of money, and we won't apologize for it." Cigarette companies have contributed nearly all of the $6.68 million raised to defeat the measure. Reynolds, the maker of Camel cigarettes, has put in $3.3 million so far. Philip Morris USA, the maker of Marlboros, and its parent company have also put in $3.3 million, including more than $1.8 million reported Tuesday. Supporters of Measure 50 have raised $1.5 million, less than a quarter of the tobacco kitty. Hospitals and health care companies have given more than $620,000, led by Providence Health System, which contributed $200,000. Unions have given more than $335,000 in support of the measure, including $100,000 from the Oregon Education Association, the teachers' union.
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