Tobacco Documents Online

-4- 'SACRAMENTO BEE, April 12, 1992 Tobacco' industry battling initiatives $1 million raised to fight new bans By Doug Dempster Bec Staff Writer The tobacco industry is spend- ing nearly $1 million to fight anti- smoking measures in the region - with most of the money going to fight Measure C, a Sacramento County ballot mea5ure that would virtually ban smoking at restau- rants and job sites. Campaign expense reports show that a statewide industry committee formed in 1990 to fight Sacramento -measures and a few others had spent almost $1 mil- lion by March 17 - almost $800,000 to fight stronger Sacra- mento controls alone. The last complete report, through Dec. 31, showed the group, Californians for p'air Busi- ness Policy, had collected more than $750,000, with more than $4 out of every $5 coming from major tobacco companies. Donations since Jan. 1 have not yetleen re• ported. "Sy"contrast, a health coalition supporting the measure raised $16,700. lndustry officials say the money is being spent to combat over- reaching governmental regula- tions. "Such stringent anti-smoking measures go too far - they intrude into the business of private citi- zens and business people," said Brad Hertz, spokesman for the Los Angeles-based industry group But Measure G supporters say health - not government regula- tion - is the key issue. Dr. Richard De Felice, chairman of Citizens for a Healthicr Sacra- mento, decried what he called the industry's "smoke-screen pulitscs " "We are confident the public will see through the tobacco in- dustry's lies and tactics," said Paul Knopprath, an American Lung Association staff member who is coordinating volunteers, "The public is smart and under- stands the importance of health - protection." Measure G came about after the Sacramento City Council and Sac- ramento County Board of Supervi. sors passed nearly identical ordi- nances in October 1990 banning indoor smoking except in bars, homes, private clubs and tobacco stores. Pro-smoking forces collect- ed enough signatures to force the county law onto the ballot but failed in the city. So, although Measure G will be voted on countywide, the results only affect the unincorporated area. - The city ordinance, which includes a 100 percent $moking ban in rQstaurants, will take i'ull effect Ma_v 9. In the meantime, 75 percent of restaurant seating must be for non•smokers. = The main controversy has focused on restaurants, which under Measure G would be required to be 100 pcrcent smoke-free in the unincorporated area with- in three years. Without the measure, it would re. inain at 40 percent. ""I resent local government telling me how to run r,rry business," said Bill Shanley of Shanley's Bar & Grill and a board member of the Sacramento Restau- rant Association, - "The next thing is that you won't be able to serve becr and wine in certain sections." ; Some other restaurants have already gone smoke. free including company-owned Carl's Jr outlets. One CHrl's Jr manager said there have been few prob- I'ms. "I can't think of a time when people started to go elsewhere," he said. °: The California Restaurant Association opposes all local ordinances, feeling they pit restaurants in ad. joining jurisdictions against each other. Instead, it supports legislative attempts to ban indoor smoking statewide. '"Our members feel very aggrieved that they're con- *tantly singled out - they (local ordinances) always focus on restaurants," said association attorney Jo- Linda Thompson. So far, the traditional trappings of heavily fought campaigns haven't emerged. There have been no bill- boards, mailers or television commercials, but the election is still seven wceks away and the latest spending reports show that voters can soon expect TV spots. - A campaign kickoff of sorts occurred Tuesday when De Felice's anti-smoking coalition called a news conference to complain that the other side failed to list contributors by March 22. The health groups followed up by filing a complaint with the state Fair Political Practices Commission. . Rut Hertz said his group marches to a different schedule that doesn't require filing until Apri130. •• Shirley Washington, spokeswoman for the office of the secretary of state, which is the repository for APR 16 1992 COMP A93(5) PV