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51 Percent Vote 'No' on California Tobacco Tax

California voters also approved a change in term limits.

Updated at 5:14 a.m. Wednesday.

California voters approved new term limits for lawmakers but turned down an effort to tax cigarettes.

With 100 percent of precincts reported, 61.3 percent of voters supported Proposition 28, the change in term limits, with 38.7 percent opposed.

Proposition 28 reduces the number of years a lawmaker can serve in the state Legislature from 14 years to 12. However, it allows lawmakers to serve in the Assembly or Senate for 12 years.

Currently, lawmakers can serve two four-year terms in the Senate or three two-year terms in the Assembly.

When it comes to Proposition 29, 51.4 percent of voters opposed the cigarettes tax while 48.5 percent supported.

Proposition 29 would've increase the tax on a pack of cigarettes from 87 cents to $1. The estimated $735 million revenue would be used for cancer and smoking research as well as tobacco law enforcement.

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Selina Forte June 6, 2012 at 05:16 pm
Well Greece and Spain are not in a better position. So what will work?
Kevin George June 6, 2012 at 05:53 pm
Selina, .....you think there is a solution? How quaint.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=31262
Tom Yarnall June 6, 2012 at 06:24 pm
Pat P, I am a very simple thinker and when I ponder something I try to break it down to something I can understand.
Now in this case I think about a couple of janitors, one a public employee and one in the nonunion private sector. They both have the same skill level. Do you think, for a micro second, that the private sector employee get's the same pay and benefits as the public sector employee? The fact is they don't and here's the rub, the private sector janitor is contributing to the pay of the public sector janitor. The same holds for all skill levels. I pray for "a man on a horse".
Libi Uremovic June 6, 2012 at 06:55 pm
in city of i.b. top 5 paid their own insurance...then they cut themselves checks to get back their money...
12/01/11 - ck # 79535 - gregory wade - $420 - 2011 hc reimbursement 12/01/11 - ck # 79540 - jacqueline m hald - $420 - 2011 hc reimbursement 12/01/11 - ck # 79555 - thomas clark - $420 - 2011 hc reimbursement 12/12/11 - ck # 79608 - linda leichtle - $420 - 2011 hc reimbursement 12/15/11 - ck # 79628 - gary brown - $420 - 2011 hc reimbursement
Libi Uremovic June 6, 2012 at 07:04 pm
the 'traditional' hierarchy is: private sector, public sector, military, government subsidies
30 years ago a private sector janitor's job paid a living wage and offered benefits that were better than the public sector....times have changed, but it's not because of lack of money...it's because of greed, whether it's in the public or private sector....
Libi Uremovic June 6, 2012 at 07:11 pm
personally, i choose not to participate in the health care industry...if i need something i pay cash...in the past i've worked for companies that have forced me to sign the papers, but i never utilized the health care programs..
but what about the rest of you...kevin, tom, things...how do you pay for your health care?
Libi Uremovic June 6, 2012 at 07:14 pm
i agree....i'd like to see how many billions have been wasted in pushing papers ...
the money should be put into immediate infrastructure needs ...or into the general fund...
James Alan Jones June 6, 2012 at 07:18 pm
Prop.29 was defeated because the big tobacco companies bought another election...It had nothing to do with unfair taxes or anything else...They were able to buy tv ads that blatantly lied about the prop. and were able to run it 24 hours a day...
Tom Yarnall June 6, 2012 at 07:34 pm
Yes, Pat, you do pay taxes, but they come back to you in the form of very good pay and lucrative benefits. Taxes from the private sector only go one way, to the out of control government.
The last president that could ride a horse was Reagan. I think it may be best to have Romney saddle up and see if he can ride this bronc and get it under control.
Kevin George June 6, 2012 at 07:35 pm
I buy my own insurance.
I had $250k in spine surgery and the doc wouldn't take chickens.
Things I Learned June 6, 2012 at 07:36 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLA3cdUt5to
Kevin George June 6, 2012 at 07:46 pm
Sorry James, I can't speak for anyone else, but this voter voted against it simply because I am sick and tired of the government taxing and feeing everything in sight.
People have figured out it is time to starve the beast.
Komfort June 6, 2012 at 07:57 pm
Paper pushers are line workers too!
Pat P June 6, 2012 at 08:09 pm
@Tom Y: you evidently don't realize that there are few, if any, Federal employee Janitors. That was contracted out to private industry, long ago. The USPS does have some postal employees who are Janitors, but those positions are only available to Veterans, and if I remember right, they have to have some degree of disability. My benefits are not "lucrative," they are living wage and what every employee deserves, and used to have prior to labor losing its bargaining power. The answer is simple, private industry chooses to take the money they would spend on employee benefits and put it in the pocket of the owner and executives. The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. Government is the last place that has decent benefits. Nothing is stopping you or anyone from applying for a job with gov't. For me, I am glad I am near retirement.
Komfort June 6, 2012 at 08:12 pm
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — After the 2001 terrorist attacks, California lawmakers sought a way to channel the patriotic fervor and use it to help victims' families and law enforcement. Their answer: Specialty memorial license plates emblazoned with the words, "We Will Never Forget."
Part of the money raised through the sale of the plates was to fund scholarships for children of California residents who perished in the attacks, while the majority — 85 percent — was to help fund anti-terrorism efforts. But a review by The Associated Press of the USD 15 million collected since lawmakers approved the "California Memorial Scholarship Program" shows only a small fraction of the money went to scholarships. While 40 percent has funded anti-terror training programs, USD 3 million was raided by Gov. Jerry Brown and his predecessor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to plug the state's budget deficit. Millions more have been spent on budget items with little relation to direct threats of terrorism, including livestock diseases and workplace safety. Moreover, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has been advertising the plates as helping the children of Sept. 11 victims, even though the state stopped funding the scholarship program seven years ago. The specialty plate fund continues to take in USD 1.5 million a year" http://m.yahoo.com/w/legobpengine/news/ap-exclusive-calif-9-11-fund-raided-deficits-070528674.html?orig_host_hdr=news.yahoo.com&.intl=US&.lang=en-US
Joe St. Lucas June 6, 2012 at 08:15 pm
I thought that the "meathead" tax put on tobacco years ago was supposed to stop people from smoking and put money into anti-tobacco propaganda and programs so that everyone would stop smoking by the turn of the millenium. And then after a bit there were complaints because some people actually cut back on smoking and the estimated revenues fell because less tobacco was being purchased. Course that's also when (it seems) that the Indian casinos started really selling cigarettes.
Komfort June 6, 2012 at 08:15 pm
What stops someone from starting their own janitorial company?
James Jones June 6, 2012 at 08:20 pm
Plus 1 for Kevin's statement. I have no reason to believe the money will be used for cancer research. I've heard these lies before.
Libi Uremovic June 6, 2012 at 08:45 pm
i also voted against it.... the additional tax was going to fluff, not to reimburse society for any costs that smoking inflicts on their community...
booze is costing our society a fortune in health and law enforcement costs...yet their tax is a fraction of tobacco's tax.... you only voted for it because you don't smoke...but we've got to start allocating our taxes to the costs to the community and country, and not just vote on something because it's a 'cause'...
Things I Learned June 6, 2012 at 08:46 pm
Government.
Libi Uremovic June 6, 2012 at 08:46 pm
i guess i should add that i don't smoke and i don't think kevin smokes either
Tom Yarnall June 6, 2012 at 09:00 pm
OK Pat, if you want to be picky just name any position in government and compare it to the private sector.
I hate to tell you this, but your government retirement benefits are lucrative to most hard working people in the private sector. Speaking of private industry, do you have any idea what the "bottom line" means. Of course, being in an environment that only receives could be confusing. I do hope you have a great retirement, just as I have had. However, I do hope they don't have to replace you and many others on the way out. Put he money back into the economy and kick start the cycle to fiscal responsibility. My last word.
Kevin George June 6, 2012 at 09:06 pm
I smoked one cigarette about 1964 and that was enough for me.
Tom Yarnall June 6, 2012 at 09:10 pm
I bargain with them, I plead with them, I beg them. If that doesn't work I give them my gold plated insurance cards and hope I have met my deductibles.
Tom Yarnall June 6, 2012 at 09:17 pm
Kevin, I must say you rival Things for wit. You guys are better than Comedy Central, if you have an open mind.
Kevin George June 6, 2012 at 09:22 pm
Hold it Tom.....I think Pat might have struck upon something.
If we ALL worked for the gubment we could all have unconditional employment and sweet pensions.......Problem solved !!!!
Tom Yarnall June 6, 2012 at 09:31 pm
You are absolutely right Kevin and when we do that we can start working on perpetual motion. You know, I'll just bet there is already a group of government employees working on that. Actually, I think them going and coming from their assignment(I didn't say work) each day is some form of perpetual motion.
Pat P June 6, 2012 at 11:21 pm
@Kevin and Tom, I am not to blame for your career choices. As for you "all" going to work for the government, well, you can certainly try. However, many people don't have the requisite skills, education, or ability to get and maintain a security clearance. But try if you like, http://www.usajobs.gov . There are plenty of jobs available in the San Diego area if you can meet the qualifications. Who do you think analyzes data to find things like where terrorists are hiding, or other information critical to the security of this country? Who do you think processes those V.A. or Social Security claims? Or keeps the data systems up and running for those programs? Who makes sure the borders are safe? Who helps our wounded Veterans in hospitals?? Yep, another gov't employee.
Things I Learned June 6, 2012 at 11:38 pm
http://www.theplaintruth.com/.a/6a00e554d79b0288330147e253bfdc970b-320wi
Kevin George June 7, 2012 at 01:28 pm
Pat, I had plenty of opportunities to work for the government over the years, but my good character, and stellar work ethic prevented me from doing so..
Note Article
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Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Susan Bainbridge May 23, 2013 at 01:16 pm
Cute dogs!
Lani Kian May 26, 2013 at 10:40 am
Good news! The owners saw a flyer that my neighbor posted at a Starbucks and they've reunited w/theRead More poochies. Yay for happy endings!