Campaign Unavailable

We're sorry, this alert is no longer available. If you would like to learn more about ways you can take action, please visit American Lung Association of the Central States: Texas Advocacy Network.

The short explanation of this alert was:
The American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control Report 2003, released today, shows that for the second consecutive year, the state of Texas fails to make the grade in three of the report’s four key areas of tobacco control. Texas scored grades of “F” in smoke-free air and tobacco program funding; and a “D” in cigarette excise taxes. The state did, however, earn an “A” in the area of youth access to tobacco. Each of the grades is unchanged from the 2002 report.

The American Lung Association of Texas has been working diligently to persuade lawmakers to increase the state’s cigarette excise tax by $1.00 - from 41 cents to $1.41- and appropriating five cents of that dollar to the development of a statewide, comprehensive tobacco control program. Now, the state’s legislators are seriously considering increasing the state’s cigarette tax to help fund the ailing public school finance system. Raising the cigarette tax could generate as much as $986 million in new revenues. With only five cents earmarked for a statewide tobacco cessation and prevention program, the state would still have approximately $926 million to improve our public schools.

Take action now to persuade the Joint Select Committee on Public School Finance to not only increase the state’s cigarette tax by $1, but to allocate at least five cents of that dollar to a statewide tobacco cessation program that will help prevent kids from smoking, and motivate current teen and adult smokers to quit. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

If you would like to view details on this alert, please visit here.