Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Latest On Other Health Ballot Initiatives From Around The Country
Springfield News-Leader: Voters Reject Tobacco Tax Earmarked To Fund Early Childhood Education, Health Initiatives
A proposal to raise Missouri's tobacco tax and use the revenue to fund early childhood education and health initiatives was rejected by voters Tuesday. ... The proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution was placed on the ballot after an initiative petition. If approved, it would have increased the tax on a pack of cigarettes from 17 cents — the lowest in the U.S. — to 60 cents by 2020. (Riley, 11/8)
The Associated Press: North Dakota Voters Snuff Out Tobacco Tax Plan
North Dakota voters have rejected a ballot measure that would have increased the state's cigarette tax by 400 percent. Opponents of the measure had argued that the tax increase would have punished retailers and unfairly targeted low-income residents. The country's two largest cigarette-makers, Altria Group Inc. and RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co., made large donations to the opposition effort. (11/8)
Denver Post: Amendment 72: Colorado Tobacco Tax Fended Off By Voters
An amendment to the state constitution that would sharply raise the tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products was rejected Tuesday night by Colorado voters opposed to the measure aimed at reducing youth smoking and channeling the revenue to a variety of health programs. (Simpson, 11/8)
The Oklahoma Daily: Oklahoma State Questions 780 And 781 Pass
lahoma State Questions 780 and 781 passed during the Nov. 8 general election. Set to become effective July 1, 2017, State Question 780 will diminish certain non-violent drug and theft-related crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, simultaneously changing their maximum penalty to one year in prison and a fine of $1,000. The changes are intended to save the state money by decreasing the number and duration of incarcerations. The companion bill, State Question 781, will then set forth a plan to distribute the savings to different counties for the purpose of supporting mental health and substance abuse services. (11/8)
