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Release: Missourians were not told the real story about the ballot measure

Contact: Bradley Ketcher, Deputy Treasurer, We Deserve Better Inc.

We Deserve Better than Big Tobacco Initiative: Missourians were not told the real story about the ballot measure

As Big Tobacco submits signatures to put its tax increase on the statewide ballot, it’s clear that support is declining as informed Missourians declare, “We Deserve Better.”

“It’s unfortunate that voters may have signed the petition without being told the real story about the Big Tobacco-sponsored initiative,” said Bradley Ketcher, deputy treasurer of the advocacy group We Deserve Better. “We have seen their support erode in recent weeks as Missourians have become more fully informed that special interests have hijacked the measure and are attempting to undermine our state’s public K-12 education, health and science-friendly policies.”

Medical research advocates, public health groups, patient advocates and educators are among those who have independently announced opposition to initiative that has been almost solely funded through $2.37 million in contributions from RAI Services, better known as R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, makers of Camel, Pall-Mall and Newport cigarettes. Big Tobacco has provided all but a woeful 5 percent of the financial backing.

Citizens aren’t the only ones abandoning the measure. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (April 24) reversed its endorsement, saying backers are attempting to deceive voters with what appears to be a “Trojan horse measure” that “contains a clause with unacceptable long-term implications for important scientific research.” The Columbia Daily Tribune (April 29) opined that it includes unrelated provisions – prohibiting tobacco research, stem cell research and repealing the long-standing prohibition of public funds for religious schools – that “make it unacceptable.”

“We believe their support will continue to decline as Missourians get the facts about this deceptive and deeply flawed Big Tobacco-funded measure,” Ketcher said.

The measure has been independently denounced by:

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

American Heart Association

American Lung Association in Missouri

BioSTL

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Concerned Women for America

Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City

Missouri Association of Rural Education

MOBIO

Missouri Cures

Stowers Institute for Medical Research

Tobacco-Free Missouri

Washington University in St. Louis

Paid for by We Deserve Better, Inc., Erika Jaques, Treasurer