Statewide Health Organization Opposes Prop 26

DAVIS, Calif., Sept. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Describing Proposition 26 as an insidious effort by tobacco, alcohol and oil interests to limit the power of local communities to protect the health of their residents, the California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA) board of directors unanimously voted to oppose the state proposition.

"Proposition 26 would take away the right of cities, counties and the state to protect the public's health," explains CCPHA's Executive Director Dr. Harold Goldstein. "This initiative is a blatant attempt by the oil, tobacco and alcohol industries to force the public to pay for cleaning up the environmental and health damages they cause.  How gullible does big business think we are?"

Prop 26 would amend the Constitution to require cities, counties and the state Legislature to have a 2/3 vote, rather than simple majority, to enact fees on industries that endanger our health, pollute our air and dirty our water. If successful, Prop 26 would cost fiscally strapped municipalities billions of dollars in lost revenue.

"One of government's fundamental responsibilities is to protect its citizens from harmful industry practices.  Now the oil, tobacco and alcohol industries want to make it as difficult to hold them accountable as it is to pass a state budget. Our organization will fight tooth and nail against this cynical power grab," Goldstein said.

CCPHA is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization leading efforts in California to establish state and local policies to protect the public's health.  For more information on this legislation, visit the CCPHA site at: www.publichealthadvocacy.org.

SOURCE California Center for Public Health Advocacy