HealthyMissouri.org | Achieve Long Lasting Health

Big Tobacco is spending millions of dollars to deceive the public about Amendment 3. Here is the TRUTH about Amendment 3. Please consider sending these facts to your friends and family!

FACT #1: Opposition to Amendment 3 is being funded by Big Tobacco and those who sell cigarettes. Remember, these people have an interest in keeping the price of cigarettes low, and therefore available to addict our teenagers.

FACT #2: Amendment 3 ONLY Raises The Tax on Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products. Missouri ’s current cigarette tax is 17 cents a pack? second lowest in the nation. After Amendment 3 is passed, our tobacco tax will be close to the national average.

FACT #3: The tobacco tax has remained the same since 1993, when the price of cigarettes was about $1.50 per pack. Today, cigarettes cost between $3.50 and $4.00 per pack, but the tax is still at 1993 levels.

FACT #4: If you don’t smoke or use tobacco, you don’t pay a penny more in higher taxes. The opposition has made the amount of the tax increase the focus of their campaign, putting up signs at gas stations and on billboards across the state, and trying to scare people into thinking that this tax will apply to something other than tobacco. Most Missourians will never pay a penny in higher taxes.

FACT #5: Tax revenue will ONLY be used for tobacco use prevention and health care access for Missourians. Missouri ranks last in the nation in funding for tobacco use education, prevention, and cessation, and not surprisingly, we have one of the highest rates of teen smoking in the nation. Revenue generated by the tax will go to increasing funding for these types of tobacco prevention programs. The rest would be spent to increase health care access for low-income Missourians.

FACT #6: The money will be protected in a Healthy Future Trust Fund, away from the politicians. This fund would be guarded by the State Constitution and audited every year to ensure that funds are being spent as promised. Why else would so many state politicians oppose this Amendment? They know that they will not be able to touch a single dime of this new revenue!

FACT #7: The opposition does not represent the many small businesses across the state that are being burdened by health care costs and lost productivity due to smoking. Fortunately, business owners are beginning to realize that the opposition has been lying about Amendment 3, as evidenced by the Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s recent overwhelming vote to endorse our plan.