State and Local Strategies of the Tobacco Industry
STATE: ALASKA
Abstract
Delivers a profile of Alaska regarding tobacco industry concerns. Includes political environment, current tax, current restrictions, major issues, needed resources, and "other issues." Divides Major Issues into: "defensive," noting Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funding and expected local battles over taxes and marketing issues; and "offensive," noting "marketing pre-emption, including AAA [Action Against Access], and tort reform. Indicates need to "maximize targeted political contributions" and to "add counsel to lobby team for local issues."
Fields
- Named Organization
- AK HOUSE
- AK SENATE
- MEDICAID
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- RWJ FOUNDATION
- Named Person
- BOTHELO,B
- KNOWLES,T
- PHILLIPS,G
- PIERCE,D
- Region
- Anchorage
- Fairbanks
- Mississippi
- Juneau
- Alaska
- Subject
- lobbying
- Local Level
- marketing
- Minimum Age
- Politics
- Restrictions
- State Level
- Taxes
- tobacco use
- Industry Sponsored Prevention Programs
Document Images
STATE: ALASKA
POLITCAL ENVIRONMENT: Governor: Tony Knowles, (D) Could
be a problem. AG - Bruce Bothelo,
accessible.
Senate: 11 R's, 9 D's: Senate Pres.
Drue Pierce.
House: 23 R's, 19 D's, Speaker: Gail
Phillips
CURRENT TAX: 29 cents
CURRENT RESTRICTIONS: State: Restaurants with 50+ must have
s/ns sections (separation, partition or
ventilation); smoking in gvt. buildings
restricted to designated smoking areas;
retail license required; minimum age is
19; signage required; no sampling or
vending regs. No pre-emption.
Local: Taxes in Anchorage (.26),
Fairbanks (8%) and Juneau (6%).
MAJOR ISSUES: DEFENSIVE: Marketing restrictions.
AK received RWJ foundation - nearly
$1 million; expect local battles on taxes
and marketing issues, especially in
Anchorage, the major population
center.
OFFENSIVE: Mktg. pre-emption,
including AAA program components
not already in place. May use MS
language to achieve marketing/smoking
preemption. Tort reform.
NEEDED RESOURCES: Maximize targeted political
contributions.
Add counsel to lobby team for local
issues.
TORT REFORM: The effort last year
to pass HB 158 will be pursued again in
96. We will offer our quiet assistance,
as we did last year. No formal coalition
exists for this effort. R's in both houses
are committeed to this effort.
MARKETING/PREEMPTION:
Mobilization: (2 committee, 2 floor.)
Co-opt retailers, c-stores for marketing
battles. PM Sales, PM Major accounts;
ITL mailer/AAA program mailer.
5016 and business/trade organizational
support. Media and mobs need to be
very low-key, and indigenous
appearing.
OTHER ISSUES: Tax bills may be dropped, but expect
the threat to be low. Don't expect
liability/medicaid issue.
