Measure to alter term limits in state Legislature passes

At a glance

Prop. 28: Reduces the total amount of time a person may serve in the state legislature from 14 years to 12 years.

Prop. 29: Imposes an additional 5 cent tax on each cigarette distributed, and an equivalent tax increase on other tobacco products, to fund cancer research and other specified purposes.

— A California ballot initiative that pitted big-spending tobacco companies against cycling legend Lance Armstrong and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was too close to call Tuesday night.

In a testament to the power of a monthlong onslaught of radio and television campaigns financed by tobacco companies, Californians were split on whether to slap an additional $1-per-pack tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products to fund cancer research.

The measure had almost 51 percent of the vote with more than 2 million ballots cast.


The attempt to increase tobacco taxes in the nation’s most populous state has attracted nationwide attention, with tobacco companies pouring in millions to quash the effort and celebrities urging voters to support it.

Tobacco taxes have been proved to reduce smoking. But opponents said the initiative would create an unaccountable bureaucracy and hurt the economy by sending tax money raised in California to other states.

Both camps said Tuesday night that they had expected a close race and remained confident.


Supporters said the tax revenue would stay in California and create jobs. They said tobacco companies are inventing arguments to obscure their true motive — safeguarding profits.

Meanwhile, voters tweaked term limits to shave two years off the total time lawmakers can serve in the state Legislature, but will allow them to spend their tenure in one house.

Supporters of Proposition 28 said it will establish consistency and reduce the influence of lobbyists.






