Despite significant gains made in 2006, the tobacco industry continues to exert political influence in many state legislatures, as well as in the U.S. Congress. A report issued by Common Cause and the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund found that the tobacco industry has made almost $3 million in Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to federal candidates during the 2005-2006 election cycle, including more than $1.7 million in contributions directly to federal candidates.² The Institute on Money in State Politics found that candidates for state office received over $2.1 million from tobacco companies in 2005-2006.³ 

Despite mounting evidence that state tobacco prevention and cessation programs work, too many state governments continue to under fund them. At the same time, the tobacco industry has ramped up its campaign to keep smokers addicted and find replacement smokers for those who have quit or died from smoking-related health problems. States have begun to look at creative ways to undercut the tobacco industry’s insidious marketing practices by introducing bans on flavored cigarettes and cracking down on Internet tobacco sales.

Many states have hardworking tobacco control coalitions that continually encounter strong resistance from their state legislators and powerful tobacco interests. The grades given in this report in no way reflect the degree of tobacco control effort expended by the public health community. Quite simply, the grades reflect how well a state's tobacco control laws measure up to the best in the nation or goals set by federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Over 438,000 people—1,200 each day—continue to die from tobacco-related diseases.⁴ While some progress has been made in each of the five years since this report was first released, the overwhelming human toll caused by tobacco adds urgency to the need for meaningful policy change. The American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control 2006 report is a call to Congress, the Administration, state legislators and governors to save lives and protect public health by adopting strong and effective tobacco control policies.

Smokefree Air 2010 Challenge

Perhaps the most visible tobacco control issue is the growing trend to enact smokefree workplace laws. In State of Tobacco Control 2005, the American Lung Association issued its Smokefree Air 2010 Challenge calling on policymakers to pass and/or close loopholes in smokefree air laws to protect all people from secondhand smoke in public places and workplaces so that every community, and all states are 100 percent smokefree by 2010.

For adult nonsmokers, the workplace is the primary source of exposure to secondhand smoke.⁵ Though approximately 70 percent of the U.S. workforce was covered by a smokefree workplace policy in 1999, there is great disparity in smokefree workplace policies among specific occupations.⁶

On June 27, 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General issued The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke. This report found that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke and confirmed that secondhand smoke is a cause of lung cancer and heart disease and has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. The report also concluded that eliminating smoking in all indoor spaces is the only way to fully protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke.⁷

Spurred on by the 2006 Surgeon General’s report and the incredible popularity of smokefree laws, the movement is gaining momentum. In 2006, nine states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico significantly strengthened their smokefree air laws. Dozens of cities and towns have also joined this national movement. The American Lung Association predicts that by 2010 all states will meet the Challenge and the United States will be smokefree. The American Lung Association urges policymakers to meet our Challenge and make the nation’s health a priority.

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