The Investigative Unit Follows Prop 29 Money Trail

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/The-Investigative-Unit-Follows-Prop-29-Money-Trail--156450895.html

The fight over a new cigarette tax in California has reached epic proportions. Both sides in the debate have spent close to a combined $57.9 million campaigning for and against Proposition 29.

If passed, the measure would add a dollar to the price of every pack of cigarettes sold in California. Under Prop 29 that extra money would go to fund research of tobacco-related diseases.

According to the campaign finance tracking group maplight.org, dozens of groups have spent $11.2 million pushing the measure. Among those giving to support the measure are the American Cancer Society, which contributed $8.4 million, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which gave $1.5 million, the American Heart Association, which gave $550,149, Michael Bloomberg, who contributed $500,000 and the American Lung Association, which gave $415,986.

The same analysis shows that even more groups have spent a combined $46.7 million opposing Proposition 29. Included among those contributors to "No On 29” are Philip Morris and US Smokeless Tobacco whose parent company Altria, gave $30.5 million, Philip Morris Tobacco Company, which contributed $11.1 million and American Snuff Company, whose parent company Reynolds American Inc., gave $1.75 million.