AdWatch monitors the factual accuracy of ballot measure TV advertising.
ADWATCH ANALYSIS
This ad for Prop. 86 says that Prop. 86 will reduce smoking and save lives and that 100 percent of the proceeds will fund critical health care programs. The ad is accurate.
What the ad says:
[Announcer]: “As Surgeon General I battled the tobacco companies. Their cigarettes have killed millions. Now they are trying to kill Proposition 86. Don’t let them. Proposition 86 will raise the tax on cigarettes, reduce smoking, save lives. 100 percent of the proceeds will fund critical health care programs. Join with the Cancer Society, Heart Association, and Lung Association and take a stand against Big Tobacco. Vote ‘yes’ on 86.”
Statement: “Proposition 86 will…reduce smoking, save lives.”
Analysis: This is accurate.
According to the California Department of Health Services (DHS), the additional tobacco tax under Prop. 86 would reduce adult smoking by an estimated 13.6 percent and teen smoking by 43 percent, reducing cigarette sales by 312 million packs per year. The DHS also estimates that the measure would prevent 300,000 premature deaths.
The DHS based its analysis on several sources, including two surgeon general reports from 2000 and 1990; a 1998 study by Frank J. Chaloupka, Ph.D. on the impact of cigarette price increases; a 1996 Center for Disease Control study entitled “Projected smoking-related deaths among youth”; and a 1992 study entitled “Cigarette smoking and lifetime medical expenditures.”
Statement: “100 percent of the proceeds will fund critical health care programs.”
Analysis: This is accurate.
As the ad shows, 26 percent of Prop. 86 revenues would go to children’s health programs, 11 percent to anti-tobacco efforts, 24 percent to disease prevention and research, and 39 percent to hospital emergency services. However, not all of the money would benefit patients directly in the form of health services. A small fraction of the revenues would go to administration and evaluation of the Prop. 86 programs. See where all Prop. 86 revenues would go.
Posted: 11.19.2006
Analysis done by the Center for Governmental Studies.
