STATE COLLEGE, CENTRE COUNTY - The dangers of smoking did not push U.S. Congressman Glenn Thompson to vote to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program – it is the thought that without a “yes” vote, thousands of kids across the country would go without health insurance.

“I’m afraid things could get a little bit worse, before they get better in terms of job lose, there could be a lot more kids going without health care services,” Thompson, (R) 5th District, said.

To help fund that SCHIP program, smokers will pony up 60 cents more for each pack of cigarettes. SCHIP help gives health insurance to youngsters whose parents make more level allowed to receive Medicaid benefits. (more…)

Madison - Gov. Jim Doyle is signaling a willingness to raise the cigarette tax, a year after he and legislators raised the tax by $1 a pack.

The Democratic governor did not explicitly endorse raising the tax in a recent interview, but he noted he originally fought for raising the tax by $1.25.

“I would simply point out that I’ve supported going to a higher level in the past,” he said.

The cigarette tax rose to $1.77 a year ago today.

Doyle - who spent Tuesday doing one-on-one interviews with reporters at the governor’s mansion in Maple Bluff - told the Wisconsin State Journal he wants to resume having the gas tax automatically increase every year. (more…)

Burley tobacco farmers have grown accustomed to seeing production decline in recent years, as high costs and few profits pushed many growers away.

But recent federal yield numbers predict a good year for burley, which once ranked among the Volunteer State’s most profitable crops.

The burley tobacco produced by Tennessee farmers this year is expected to outperform last year’s crop by 22 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. If that prediction holds true, it will mark the first time the production of burley — most commonly used in cigarettes — has shown a year-over-year increase since 1999.
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Little Falls, N.Y. -

The Little Falls Common Council Tuesday approved a resolution designating the Furnace Street and Columbus Park playgrounds as tobacco-free playgrounds.
The council made the designation to protect the health, welfare and safety of people utilizing the playgrounds, citing their commitment to providing a high quality of living for all residents. They also cited their beliefs that tobacco products, once consumed in public spaces, are often discarded on the ground, thus posing a risk to toddlers and causing a littler problem; as parents, leaders, coaches and officials they are thought of as role models, and that the use of tobacco products around youth has a negative effect on their lifestyle choices; and that tobacco product use in the proximity of children, youth and adults engaging in watching recreational activities is unhealthy and detrimental to the health of others.
“The emphasis on enforcing the tobacco-free playgrounds is through voluntary compliance,” said Mayor Bob Peters. “City staff will make periodic observations of these activity sites to monitor compliance and to help promote awareness of the tobacco-free policy.”
Peters added that the city Department of Public Works will erect signs at the playgrounds to notify patrons that they are tobacco-free areas.

ALBANY — New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Commissioner Robert L. Megna has announced that six people were recently arrested in three separate cases for possessing 315 cartons of illegal cigarettes purchased from local smoke shops in Salamanca and Irving.

In the first case, Eugene Cabral, 45, of 20 Yeaton Street, Coventry, RI, and John Gelsomino, 46, of 510 Davisville Road, North Kingston, RI, were arrested in Cattaraugus County on May 11 and found to be in possession of 123 cartons of unstamped cigarettes and $8,779 in cash.

They were arrested after Salamanca Police stopped Cabral for speeding and a large quantity of cigarettes were seen in the rear of the vehicle. Tax Department investigators were called and determined that the unstamped cigarettes were purchased from an Indian reservation smoke shop in Irving.

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WASHINGTON-Whoever wins the White House in November, anti-tobacco advocates say, one thing is clear: The next president will be an improvement over the current one.

Over the last eight years, President Bush has often sided with tobacco companies against legislation to curb smoking, they say.

“This administration hasn’t been particularly positive on a tobacco-control agenda,” said Paul Billings, vice president of national policy advocacy for the American Lung Association.

With the lackluster economy, the Middle East and the extended Democratic primary battle dominating the presidential race, scant attention has been paid to the candidates’ views on key tobacco policy issues.

A review of Barack Obama’s, Hillary Clinton’s and John McCain’s voting records and proposals reveals that all three candidates have fought for stricter tobacco control measures than Bush.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The House voted 62-19 today to bar use of tobacco products on the House floor or any area of the Capitol controlled by the House — including committee rooms and offices.

The legislation (House Resolution 69) by Representative Karen Carter Peterson, of New Orleans, was approved without going to a committee for debate.

The ban covers use of any tobacco product, including chewing tobacco. Peterson acknowledged the measure has no penalties but said sergeants-at-arms can enforce it by telling a member or a visitor not to light up or chew.

Some lawmakers noted that the Capitol’s fourth floor, which has offices for the governor and his staff, has some chewers. Timmy Teepell, Governor Bobby Jindal’s chief of staff, is a frequent visitor to the House chamber and sometimes chews tobacco from a seat in the rear of the House.

The change will go into effect when House Speaker Jim Tucker, a co-sponsor of the resolution, signs it.

FRAMINGHAM —

A Framingham man choked his niece into unconsciousness Wednesday because she didn’t give him her cigarettes when she quit smoking, police said.

James Bird, 45, is being held without bail after attacking the 20-year-old woman about 6:15 p.m. at 24 Wilson Ave., police spokesman Lt. Paul Shastany said.

On Wednesday, police went to 24 Wilson Ave. after a woman, whom police did not identify, called to report a problem between her daughter and her brother, Bird.

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A Lubbock County jury on Thursday sentenced Kenneth Devroe to 12 years in prison for burglarizing a Lubbock business.

Devroe, 40, broke into the Tobacco Express on West 19th Street on September 29, stealing several cartons of cigarettes and some lighters.

He also has two pending burglary charges against him.

Devroe pleaded guilty to the charge and accepted an enhancement based on four prior convictions, including two burglaries of a habitation, an unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and a theft.

The priors increase his penalty range from six months to two years in state jail to two to 20 years in prison.

DURANT — City workers are prohibited from using smokeless tobacco while riding on the back of a garbage truck or on a tractor under an amendment to the city’s personnel manual approved during a Tuesday meeting of Durant City Council.

The new rule reads, “In keeping with the city’s intent to provide a safe work environment, smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco is prohibited throughout the workplace and extends to 25 feet beyond any portion of city buildings or facilities. Any tobacco use in city-owned or leased vehicles is also prohibited. This policy applies equally to all employees, customers and visitors.”

Assistant City Manager Tim Young said the policy mirrors what is already state law. Vice Mayor Ron Cross asked if it would apply to a worker riding a tractor and Young said that it would, although enforcement would be difficult.

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