Campaign Update
Friday, October 13, 2006

The election is just 3½ weeks away – we are in the final stretch! Many thanks to all of our partners who have phonebanked, sent Proposition 86 news to their e-mail lists, released press statements, formally endorsed the initiative, submitted letters to the editor and op-eds, spoken with friends and family about the benefits of the tobacco tax, and much more.

We truly appreciate your support for Prop 86, which will increase the state's tobacco tax to reduce smoking and fund important health care priorities in California such as tobacco cessation services, emergency room services, children's health insurance, cancer prevention and research, and more.

Inside This Issue:

The 'Yes on Prop 86' television ads are currently airing in selected coastal markets; the ads will start to be aired statewide on October 16th and run through Election Day. We know these ads are effective with voters- but the crucial difference in this campaign will be the strong support for Prop 86 from community leaders like you.

For additional information, please visit:

• The Yes on Prop 86 ads are located at
  http://www.yesprop86.org

• You can continue to help phonebanking, endorsing, and contributing by going to
  http://www.yesprop86.com/help.html

New Prop 86 Supporters
New Prop 86 supporters include AARP California; Asian Pacific Partners For Empowerment, Advocacy & Leadership; California Academy of Family Physicians; California Partnership; Community Action to Fight Asthma; Environmental Health Coalition; First 5 San Bernardino County; First 5 Santa Cruz County; Los Angeles Urban League; and many more.

Recent Supportive Editorials in Major Newspapers

• The Los Angeles Times – "Yes on Proposition 86" reads in part "Secondhand smoke affects all of us, and our public health system continues to bear the weight of medical problems brought on by tobacco."

• Oakland Tribune – "New Cigarette Tax Will Save California Lives" reads in part "If you're looking for a measure on the Nov. 7 ballot that could have a profound effect on the lives, health and welfare of Californians, Proposition 86 could be your ticket."

• San Jose Mercury News – "Vote to Reduce Smoking" reads in part "All California voters really need to know is that a 'yes' vote will discourage hundreds of thousands of people – especially teens – from smoking. That alone would make the proposition worthy of support. But it will also have the additional benefit of helping pay to provide health insurance for thousands of uninsured children throughout the state, including Santa Clara County."

ABC World News aired a segment about the tobacco industry's strategies to defeat anti-smoking laws by deceiving the public. Prop 86 was highlighted - among efforts in other states - as one of Big Tobacco's targets. Wendy Lazarus of The Children's Partnership and Californians for Healthy Kids was the featured speaker for Proposition 86.

An Associated Press news story entitled "Tobacco Giants Wage All-Out Fight Against Anti-Smoking Measures" further details Big Tobacco's efforts to squelch Prop 86 and similar measures.

Thank you for all of your efforts on behalf of children's health coverage. If you have any questions or would like additional information about supporting this crucial measure for the health of California's kids, please don't hesitate to contact Kelly Hardy at khardy@childrennow.org or 510-763-2444 x126.

The 100% Campaign, a collaborative effort of Children Now, Children's Defense Fund and The Children's Partnership, was created to ensure that all of California's children obtain the health insurance they need to grow up strong and healthy.
www.100percentcampaign.org

The PICO California Project is the united effort of 20 California congregation-community organizations affiliated with the PICO National Network. Collectively, we represent 350 congregations and 400,000 families statewide and are actively organizing in over 70 cities in Northern and Southern California.
www.picocalifornia.org