Today supporters of Proposition 56 will dump 5,600 toe tags from body bags at a Bakersfield Rally. The event is happening at the ACS Bakersfield Office on 1831 Truxtun Ave Suite #150 at 11:00am.
The proposition would increase the state's cigarette tax of 87 cents per pack to $2.87.
Supporters of Prop 56 say that the increased cigarette tax will be used to fund health care, tobacco use prevention, research and law enforcement. Plus, they say the passing would keep drugs out of the hands of children.
The tobacco industry is against the proposition. Tobacco companies says Prop 56 only allocates just 13% of new tobacco tax money to help smokers or stop kids from starting smoking. Plus, they say the proposition is a $1.4 billion tax hike grab by insurance companies and other wealthy special interest to dramatically increase their profits.
