Voters, Not Big Tobacco, Were Victorious

Source from:  Mike Russell, Salem November 13, 2007 11/15/2007

The front page of the Nov. 7 Statesman Journal quotes our governor's reaction to the defeat of Measure 50. "The tobacco industry won this battle, but they will not win the war." It occurs to me that the voters won the battle. If the state of Oregon is going to single out an "industry" to fund a state program, why not beer or soda pop or bottled water or candy or french fries? The intent of Measure 50 was to add a "sales tax" to a product. Sales tax is a notion that has been rejected by Oregonians for a long time. The governor may wish to be informed that the state of Oregon already has plans in place to address the problem of uninsured Oregonians. One is called the Family Health Insurance Assistance Program. Another is called the Oregon Health Plan. Additionally, the Insurance Pool Governing Board has designed employer-sponsored group plans specifically for the benefit of children. It is probably a good idea to fix what we already have rather than throw money at a new solution. Hooray for the voters! We have not been duped by tobacco industry advertising. We are intelligent and victorious. Enditem