(PORTLAND, Ore.) – Today, the Oregon Nurses Association released a report revealing that big tobacco has spent more than $16 million in Oregon over the last decade to influence and prevent common-sense public health policies. These contributions represent a who's who of the tobacco industry, including Altria (Philip Morris) and Reynolds American (RJ Reynolds).
Meanwhile, 150 million packs of cigarettes, 21 million cans of dip tobacco, 1.8 million premium cigars, and more than $30 million worth of cheaper cigars are sold each year in Oregon. Big tobacco is a powerful player in Oregon retail and Oregon politics.
"The amount big tobacco is willing to pay to fight policies that protect Oregonians from the harmful effects of tobacco and second-hand smoke is alarming," said Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury. "It's time we hold big tobacco accountable and implement smart public health protections."
The report details several key victories big tobacco has secured, to the detriment of Oregon families' health:
- Oregon has generally lax oversight and enforcement for selling tobacco to minors. In 2013, Oregon ranked the worst in the country for youth access. Despite work to combat the problem, like the advancement of Tobacco-21 legislation in the State Legislature, Oregon remains one of the few states without statewide tobacco retailer licensing that would give retailers greater incentive to comply with the law, like with alcohol and marijuana.
- Oregon's cigarette taxes are below average, prompting The American Lung Association to give Oregon an “F” rating for state tobacco taxes. Research shows that higher taxes mean fewer kids will start smoking.
- Oregon continues to offer huge tax breaks for luxury cigars, charging 65 percent of the wholesale price and no more than $0.50 per cigar.
- Tobacco companies have paid more than $1.4 billion in Oregon since 1999 as part of an agreement to avoid future lawsuits. But only 1 percent of those payments has gone to public health tobacco prevention programs.
"Big tobacco has bought influence and effectively stifled progress on promoting tobacco cessation and youth prevention in Oregon," said former Executive Director of the Oregon Nurses Association Susan King, MS, RN, CEN, FAAN. "The illness and disease caused by tobacco use is well-documented, and we know the right public health policies will discourage smoking."
The full report, "Buying Influence: Big Tobacco Spends Million to Stop Public Health Progress," can be viewed at http://bit.ly/2sHG8J8
Despite continued opposition from big tobacco, the Oregon Nurses Association and Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury remain committed to pursuing common-sense public health policies to reduce the damages tobacco use has on Oregon’s families.
Earlier today, the Oregon Nurses Association and Chair Kafoury submitted more than 1,000 signatures to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office to receive an official ballot title for the Oregon Healthy Families Act (Initiative Petition 21) for the 2018 general election. The Oregon Healthy Families Act would significantly improve Oregonians’ health and decrease youth access to tobacco by raising the price of cigarettes by $2 a pack and increasing local investments in disease prevention and health promotion.
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) was founded in 1904 as the professional association for nurses in Oregon. It is a nonprofit association and a labor union which represents more than 14,000 registered nurses throughout Oregon. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit www.OregonRN.org.
