Report Shows Big Tobacco's Contributions To Calif. Politicians

Source from:  nbc11.com 07/30/2007

A new report said the tobacco companies have a big influence at the state Capitol on California politics, NBC11's Mike Luery reported. California's 4 million smokers provided the tobacco companies with plenty of money to flex their power in California politics, according to the report released by the American Lung Association. "The tobacco companies are spending more than $68 million to influence elections and the outcome of legislation here at the Capitol, and we think that's important for the public to know," said Paul Knepprath of the American Lung Association. Most of the money, $62 million, was used to defeat Prop 86 in November, which would have raised the tax on cigarettes by $2.60 a pack. The report lists hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to state lawmakers, most of them Republicans, including $13,000 to GOP Assembly Leader Mike Villines. The report said some money also went to prominent Democrats. The report said Attorney General Jerry Brown took $5,600 from big tobacco. Liberal state Sen. Carole Migden, of San Francisco, accepted $4,300, according to the report. "The people of California are getting the shaft when it comes to representative democracy. The bottom line is the tobacco industry and other wealthy industries get more say in Sacramento than the average voter," said Ned Wigglesworth of California Common Cause. Philip Morris USA said the contributions are legal. "The company has long been committed to participating in the political process on behalf of its employees, customers and stakeholders, at both the state and federal levels, and will continue to do so in the future," the company said in a statement. The report said tobacco companies have been successful when it comes to sending politicians to Sacramento. Every candidate supported by tobacco interests in the 2006 general election was successful at the polls. To see who is taking contributions from big tobacco, click here. Enditem