BACKGROUND NOTE: This document summarizes the legislative landscape in
Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, Nebraska and Oregon in 1993,
and explains the "problems" the Tobacco Industry (TI) is dealing with in those states. It
gives the strategies for fighting tax initiatives and other popular and
political anti-tobacco efforts in these states, and offers the budgets
for fighting them as well.
It is interesting to note that the biggest budget was devoted to Colorado, as
the TI was concerned that several
members of Colorado ASSIST had attended a Prop. 99 "how to" meeeting in
California at the same time that citizen-activist Douglas Bruce was working
to liberalize the laws regarding initiative and referndum in Colorado.
Realizing that Prop. 99 was a reality in California, TI adopted the
bailout strategy we now see them using, stating clearly in this document that
their tactic was to "Launch initiative which diverts Prop 99 funds into General Fund."
In Michigan, the document reveals how the TI takes on private citizens
AND makes tacit threats to even the highest public officials:
"Strategy: Deter [Ron] Davis, a strategic leader of anti-tobacco
coalition. Tactic: Conduct survey about relationship between tobacco
issues and '94 election. Tactic: Communicate to Gov. Engler the risks he
runs from abandoning his no-tax pledge. Budget: $30,000."
Also, the document reveals the TI's strategy of making it difficult for
initiative proponents to get help gathering signatures from professional
signature-gathering firms by tying up those firms with "other"
(tobacco-related) business. Again, in Michigan:
"Strategy: Reduce opportunity of initiative proponents to retain the
services of professional signature-gathering firms. Tactic: use a
variety of firms for other tobacco purposes. Budget $15,000"
And again, in Oregon, we see the same tactic for derailing a potential
initiative effort:
"Ensure that the opposition has difficulty in
retaining professional signature-gathering assistance by using firms
currently under retainer. Budget $85,000."
But the last stated tactic to "deter/derail future anti-tobacco
initiatives in Oregon" is positively chilling:
"Prepare budget and campaign plan for qualification and passage of
constitutional change. Budget: $30,000."
Anne Landman
American Lung Association of Colorado, West Region Office
Grand Junction
Type of Document: Report, budget review
Company: Lorillard Tobacco Company
Date: 3/11/93
Site: http://www.lorillarddocs.com/
Bates No. 92758352/8362 (ten pages)
URL:
http://www.lorillarddocs.com/getimg.asp?pgno=0&start=0&bool=92758352/8362&docid=92758352/8362
