Newsletter

Both the House and the Senate included the cigarette tax in the corporate tax bill. The tax bill has gone to a conference committee, whose members include Sens. Cynthia Creem, Richard Tisei, Harriett Chandler, and Reps. John Binienda, Brad Jones, and Angelo Scaccia and is being worked on right now. The Senate version of the bill also includes an amendment that repeals minimum cigarette pricing. The Coalition has met with members of the conference committee and we are hopeful that the minimum pricing amendment will not be included in the final version of the bill. Both bills earmark funds for health reform, and both include a floor tax provision and have an effective date of July 1st making them essentially "non-conference-able".

Once the final version is released Tobacco Free Mass will send out an Action Alert to our e-champions encouraging the Governor to sign the bill.

The House voted to increase the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program (MTCP)'s line item by $1 Million. The increase is a terrific victory, especially given the current difficult fiscal climate. The Senate level funded the MTCP and the amendment submitted to increase it by $1 Million was not passed. The budget will be going to a conference committee and once the committee is named TFM will work on setting up meetings and sending out action alerts and drops to encourage them to support the increased funding.

Ads were put into some local newspapers encouraging calls to their Senators to support the Tobacco Tax and Tobacco Control Program funding and Health Reform. After the tax bill and the budget are finalized, ads thanking lawmakers will run.

ADVOCACY UPDATE

FUNDRAISING

UPCOMING EVENTS

MEMBER EVENTS

PARTNER EVENTS

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Thank you to all who made donations to Kick Butts Day!

If your organization has not yet made a donation to the Coalition and would like to please contact Russet or Erin at 508-270-4683. Any amount is helpful and appreciated. Consider making a targeted donation for Kick Butts Day, or making a personal donation on behalf of your organization as several members have done. Our goal is to get 100% member participation at some level and we are currently les than halfway to that goal.

• As you may have heard our longtime champion Representative Rachel Kaprielian is leaving her post to head the registry of motor vehicles. We expect her to give her final speech on Wednesday, May 28 at 1:30 during the House session. We are going to show her how much she has meant to the Coalition and this movement but attending her speech and watching from the gallery. To properly commemorate her, we are going to surprise her by wearing special T-shirts that will include interested Coalition member's logos. I urge you to come to the State House to watch her that day. Please let Russet know asap if you are able to attend. Everyone can meet at 1:10 at the 4th floor coffee shop.
• www.tobaccofreemass.net is continuously being updated, please visit the site and let us know what you think. The newsletter can now be seen on our website, and the "for Coalition Members" section is up and running.
• Press Clips are being sent out to interested Coalition members two or three times a week. If you would like to be added to this list please send an email to erin.hightower@cancer.org.

WHEN:   June 23-24, 2008
WHERE: The Wamsutta Club
             427 County Street
             New Bedford, MA
TIME:     9AM-4PM
COST:    $40.00
AUDIENCE: Nurses, social workers, medical assistants, health educators, substance abuse and mental health counselors, respiratory therapists, dental hygienists, and other allied health personnel

To Register or for More course information, Go to: http://www.umassmed.edu/Content.aspx?id=46256
Please contact Beth Ewy at 508-856-2935 or beth.ewy@umassmed.edu for additional details.