For Immediate Release June 22, 2012 Contact: Campaign Hotline, 916.397.

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Yes on Prop 29 Concedes Defeat Thanks Supporters, Pledges to Keep Fighting

Sacramento, Calif. Almost three weeks after the June 5 election, the Yes on 29 campaign today conceded a narrow defeat on Proposition 29, the tobacco tax initiative that would have raised money for cancer research while lowering smoking rates throughout California. The Yes on 29 campaign released this statement: While the final numbers are not yet in, it appears that Californias Prop 29 will be defeated. In what is the closest ballot initiative in California history, Big Tobaccos $50 million misinformation campaign will rob Californians of the ability to invest more than $500 million annually in cancer research, save more than 104,000 lives, stop more than 228,000 kids from smoking and reduce long-term health care costs by more than $5 billion. Since 2002, 47 states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico have increased their cigarette tax rates more than 105 times. We are saddened that California will not be joining them; but remain firm in our commitment to continue fighting Big Tobacco and the promotion of their deadly products to Californians, especially our children. Out-of-state big Tobaccos victory was a defeat for the public health of every Californian. We are sorely disappointed that, yet again, Big Tobacco placed its profits ahead of the health of California and the nation. The tobacco industry spent more the $200 for every child that they want to eventually take up smoking. Its a sad day for California and for the millions of Californians who are fighting and will fight cancer, heart disease and lung disease. The narrow defeat of Prop 29 is even more disheartening when viewed in light of Californias ongoing budget battles. Smokers cost California more than $16 billion each year and add to the state and nations healthcare crisis. While California and states across the country struggle to cope with dire financial predictions, Big Tobacco continues to earn billions of dollars on the backs of all those addicted to tobacco and the taxpayers who bear the true brunt of their efforts. We are proud of the campaign we ran and the remarkable grassroots effort led by the American Cancer Society, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the thousands of volunteers throughout California. We want to be very clear: this setback will not slow our ongoing
Paid for by Yes on 29, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Inc. and American Cancer Society Inc. Ballot Committee. Major funding by American Cancer Society Inc. and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Inc.

efforts to keep tobacco out of the hands of children and to help all those suffering from the devastating effects of smoking. Prop 29 would have saved lives; Big Tobaccos sole mission is to profit from them. Saving lives is our mission.

Paid for by Yes on 29, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Inc. and American Cancer Society Inc. Ballot Committee. Major funding by American Cancer Society Inc. and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Inc.