Among the barrage of tobacco-financed TV ads against Measure 50 is one that would lead viewers to believe WW has come out against the proposed 84.5-cent tax increase on a pack of smokes.
The ad (posted below) boils down the following paragraph from this Oct. 3 story:
The real loser is less clear to all but a few Ivory Tower academics, some of whom might otherwise back the health-care goals of Measure 50. It’s that little, you know, sacred document, yadda yadda, known as the Oregon Constitution.
to read “The real loser is … the Oregon Constitution.”
Ah, the magic of the ellipsis. Yes, we do have concerns about enshrining this tax policy in the state constitution. But they’re outweighed, as we wrote here in this endorsement FOR Measure 50 by what the money would do: raise cash to provide health insurace for Oregon’s uninsured kids. And we like that a higher tax would reduce smoking.
PS _ A reminder that ballots are due in county elections office by 8 pm Tuesday, Nov. 6. Here’s a helpful link on that score.
PPS to RJ Reynolds: The least you could have done is junk your use of a logo we last had in 1994.
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The problems with this measure – are what are the safeguards when the money stops rolling in from the smokers who can no longer smoke, due to the high prices- what then – who covers the shortfall – why taxpayers of course – the original plan of the legislature anf Teflon Ted. It doesn’t belong in the Constitution..
By the way didn’t the State receive 2.1 billion $ from the tobacco settlement – seems like that money should have been enough to cover every uninsured kid in Oregon. Where did that money go ??
My final argument would be, and what about the thousands of illegal’s in the Sate – how much of the 100,000 are they going to take??
Well, that is what Beth said, and in a story titled "Lighting Up The Constitution." You can’t object to it now after publishing it then.
I grant you, the switch of the screens from newspaper quotes to No on 50 logos could confuse people, but the quote is fair. Movie promotions do far worse.
Don’t mess with the constitution, NO on 50!