HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 06-073RESOLUTION 06-073
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA
SUPPORTING THE TOBACCO TAX ACT OF 2006
WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act of 2006 is a state initiative which if passed by voters
in November 2006 would raise the state's tobacco tax by an additional $2.60/pack and the tax
increase alone would prevent 700,000 children currently under 17 years of age from becoming
smokers in adulthood; and
WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act would produce more than $2 billion in annual revenue
to fund children's health insurance, emergency room care, nursing education, disease prevention,
medical research and programs that will reduce smoking, especially among children; and
WHEREAS, 4.5 million Californians smoke and nearly 75,000 a year try their first
cigarette, and these smokers put a significant burden on our economy and our hospitals and
healthcare systems; and
WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act would significantly reduce the burden on state and
local healthcare agencies of treating the uninsured by providing basic health insurance coverage
including primary care and hospitalization to California's 800,000 uninsured children -nearly
10% -- by expanding eligibility and simplifying enrollment in the state's Medi-Cal and Healthy
Families public health insurance programs for children; and
WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act would provide more than 700 community-based
clinics throughout the state with much needed dollars to continue to provide primary health care
services to uninsured and underinsured children and adults, thereby alleviating the overuse of
local emergency rooms; and
WHEREAS, the Tobacco Tax Act will provide needed funds for emergency rooms and
critical care services (seventy California hospital emergency rooms have closed their doors in the
past ten years). Reducing smoking and funding emergency care will help keep community
emergency rooms open.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saratoga does hereby support the Tobacco Tax Act of 2006, which
will reduce smoking, especially among children and fund critical healthcare priorities such as
children's health insurance, emergency room care, disease prevention and medical research.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be transmitted to the
Coalition for a Healthy California and to the organization/City/County's legislative
representatives in Sacramento, and to the Speaker of the California Assembly, Senate President
Pro Tempore, and to the Governor.
The above and foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the Saratoga City Council at a
regulaz meeting held on the 6`h day of September 2006, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Kathleen King, Nick Streit, Ann Waltonsmith,
Vice Mayor Aileen Kao
NOES: None