Big Tobacco’s Suit Seeking to Throw Measure 50 off November Ballot Found by Marion County Judge to be Without Merit.
(Salem, OR) – A Marion County Judge denied the motion seeking to remove Measure 50 from the November ballot.
Judge Paul Lipscomb found that “the challenge fails as to each of the specific substantive issues it raises.”
Tobacco giant Philip Morris paid the legal fees for the suit. Measure 50 is a constitutional amendment that would raise taxes on tobacco to boost children’s health insurance coverage. Tobacco companies have filed more than 35 suits in five other states since 2001 to block tobacco-related measures. To date none of those attempts had been successful.
“This is a great victory for Oregon’s kids. Big Tobacco tried and failed to keep measure 50 off the ballot because they know Oregonians want to protect our kids, not tobacco industry profits,” said Cathy Kaufmann, Communications Director for the Healthy Kids Oregon Campaign.
American Cancer Society
Oregon PTA
Oregon Medical Association
Oregon Business Association
Oregon State Fire Fighters Council
Oregon Alliance of Retired Americans
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
Oregon Education Association
Children First for Oregon
Oregon Nurses Association
United Seniors of Oregon
Governor Ted Kulongoski
Oregon Pediatric Society
Oregon Academy of Family Physicians
Oregon AFL-CIO
Children’s Institute
March of Dimes, Greater Oregon Chapter
Medford Chamber of Commerce
United Cerebral Palsy of Oregon and SW Washington
Basic Rights Oregon
Willamette Dental Group
Kaiser Permanente
Oregon Academy of Otolaryngology – head & Neck Surgery, Inc
Oregon Academy of Ophthalmology
Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals
Social Action Committee, West Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Nurse Practitioners of Oregon
Oregon Supported Living Program
Human Services Coalition of Oregon
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon
Lane Coalition for Healthy Active Youth-LCHAY
Portland City Club
Basic Rights Oregon
Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good
Oregon State Council for Retired Citizens
Mid-Valley IPA
The Urban League of Portland
American Lung Association of Oregon
Oregon Alliance of Children’s Program
Coalition for a Healthy Oregon
Northwest Health Foundation
UFCW 555
Pearl Buck Center
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Legacy Health System
Oregon Public Health Association
Juvenile Rights Project
American Federation of Teachers
American Association of University Women
National Council of Jewish Women, Portland Section
Community Action Partnership of Oregon
Oregon School-Based Health Care Network
SEIU, Local 503 and Local 49
Tuality Healthcare
American Jewish Committee
Oregon State Public Interest Research Group
CareOregon
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
Community Health Advocates of Oregon
PeaceHealth - Oregon Region
The Oregon Rehabilitation Association
Our Oregon
Portland Habilitation Center
Save Oregon Seniors
Council for Children’s Expanded Physical Education
Jewish Federation of Greater Portland
Oregonians for Health Security
Women’s Rights Coalition
Albertina Kerr Centers
Lane Individual Practice Association
Upstream Public Health
Oregon Primary Care Association
Portland Business Alliance
Providence Health System
AFSCME Council 75
AFSCME, Local 328
Campaign For Tobacco Free Kids
Oregon Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Oregon Dental Association
Gray Panthers of Oregon
National Association of Social Workers - Oregon Chapter
Oregon Food Bank
Oregon Health Action Campaign
Stand for Children
Community Health Partnership
Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children