OSPIRG expressed disappointment today when the Healthy Kids initiative -- Measure 50 -- lost by a vote of 60% to 40%.
"This is bad news for the health of Oregon's children," said Matt Wallace, OSPIRG consumer associate. "We are appalled that the tobacco industry spent $12 million to defeat this measure."
Measure 50 would have provided health coverage to over 100,000 uninsured children in Oregon by raising cigarette taxes by 84.5 cents per pack. The measure also would have helped fund tobacco education and prevention and provided funds to enroll an additional 10,000 low income adults in the Oregon Health Plan.
"OSPIRG continues to support the common sense policies in Measure 50," said Wallace. "We will continue to work to make sure that all Oregon children have access to affordable quality health care."
