What Is Proposition 56? Voter Guide for 2016 California Measures

LOS ANGELES, CA -- If it passes, Proposition 56 would increase the cigarette tax by $2 per pack with an equivalent increase on other tobacco products including e-cigarettes.

The tax revenue would be used mainly to provide health care for low-income residents. Its supporters contend the law makes smokers pay their fair share of tobacco-related health care costs. However, its critics contend the money is misspent. Too much of the money will go to insurance companies and special interests, they argue.

The measure has the support of the Democratic and Green parties, and a mixture of lawmakers, unions and groups such as the California PTA. Proponents say it protects children, save lives and forces smokers to pay their fair share of the cost to fight cancer.

Its opponents include the Republican and Libertarian parties and the California Taxpayers Association and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. They contend it wastes money and too much of the revenue goes to insurance companies and special interests.

According to the ballot summary Proposition 56:

• Increases cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack, with equivalent increase on other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes containing nicotine.
• Requires biennial audit.
• If tax causes decreased tobacco consumption, transfers tax revenues to offset decreases to existing tobacco-funded programs and sales tax revenues.
• Allocates revenues primarily to increase funding for existing healthcare programs; also for tobacco use prevention/control programs, tobacco-related disease research and law enforcement, University of California physician training, dental disease prevention programs, and administration. Excludes these revenues from Proposition 98 funding requirements.
• If tax causes decreased tobacco consumption, transfers tax revenues to offset decreases to existing tobacco-funded programs and sales tax revenues.
• Requires biennial audit.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8

Your polling place is listed on the back of the sample ballot you receive in the mail. It can also be found by visiting www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place or by calling (800) 345-VOTE (8683).

For more on all of California's measures, see below:

• What Is Proposition 51?
• What Is Proposition 52?
• What Is Proposition 53?
• What Is Proposition 54?
• What Is Proposition 55?
• What Is Proposition 56?
• What Is Proposition 57?
• What Is Proposition 58?
• What Is Proposition 59?
• What Is Proposition 60?
• What Is Proposition 61?
• What Is Proposition 62?
• What Is Proposition 63?
• What Is Proposition 64?
• What Is Proposition 65?
• What Is Proposition 66?
• What Is Proposition 67?

Patch file photo

City News Service contributed to this report.