California’s Prop 56: Nothing But Smoke

With fewer than 60 days left in the 2016 election, voters in California may find themselves spending longer at the polls than usual on November 8th, thanks, in large part, to a long list of ballot measures that have found their way onto the Election ballot. For the most part, these ballot initiatives are innocuous and are altruistic in nature, such as Proposition 67 the plastic grocery bag ban, which keeps the statewide ban on single use plastic bags in place.

On the other hand, ballot measures such as Proposition 56 are merely wolves in sheep’s clothing. Proposition 56 is a new measure which would increase cigarette taxes in the state by $2. Initially, Prop 56 presents itself as a way to raise money for California schools, help keep kids from smoking, as well as improve health care. However, Prop 56 is nothing more than a tax hike grab which will line the pockets of special interest groups and health insurance companies leaving millions of dollars left unaccounted for and opening the doors to waste, fraud, and abuse.

The toughest aspect to swallow on Prop 56 is the sobering fact that this tax hike grab will only reward CEO’s of special interest groups and insurance companies under the guise of improving California’s health care system. According to the ballot measure, insurance companies would receive as much as $1 billion for treating the very same Medi-Cal patients they are currently treating. Based on the funding formula, health insurance companies are set to receive 82% of the money collected, leaving roughly 13% to go to help people stop smoking and keep kids from ever starting.

Proponents for Prop 56 are campaigning on the faulty promise of keeping California kids from smoking, if passed. However, this is merely a bait-and-switch tactic, because what supporters of Prop 56 do not want you to know is how the ballot measure was written to bypass California’s Constitutional minimum school funding guarantee. In other words, Prop 56 cheats public schools out of at least $600 million a year.

From cheating schools to lining the pockets of health insurance companies, Prop 56 leaves a lot to be desired in terms of the good things that will come if this ballot measure if passed. Looking at it objectively, Proposition 56 is one of the most discriminatory ballot initiatives in California this election cycle. Disguised as the solution to the problems plaguing Californians, this tax hike grab takes aim and singles out smokers forcing them to cough up an extra $2 a pack only to turn around and reward wealthy CEO’s.

It is no surprise the November ballot for Californians is high stakes for the future of the Golden State. Voting no on Proposition 56 is taking a stand for the children and smokers whose rights are equal to nonsmokers. Prop 56 targets smokers and takes aim at their wallets to reward health insurance companies with larger profits. This ballot measure works like Robin Hood, but in reverse – it steals from the poor and gives to the rich. Sadly, Prop 56 is a witch-hunt of a tax, which preys on smokers and at the end of the day pumps money into special interest groups with zero taxpayer accountability. The truth is that Prop 56 affects more than just smokers; it affects all Californians, unfortunately, though, not in the way supporters of the ballot measure want people to think. The ramifications of passing Proposition 56 are more than just increasing profits for health insurance companies and cheating California’s schools out of billions of dollars. The true effects of Prop 56 will not be seen until future elections, when more special interest groups will push for their ballot initiatives targeting small percentages of Californians under the guise of helping all Californians. If Prop 56 really did have the interest of all Californians in mind, it would tackle head on the everyday issues plaguing the residents of California, instead of blatantly ignoring issues such as failing infrastructure and increasing violent crime rates.

Originally written for and published on Political Storm.