On December 30, 1999, New York Governor George Pataki signed the Health Care Reform Act of 2000, raising the state cigarette tax by 55 cents a pack to $1.11, providing access to health care for nearly a million low-income New Yorkers and establishing a statewide tobacco use reduction program. Enactment of the legislation marked the culmination of an 18-month advocacy campaign by a tobacco control coalition of diverse health, voluntary and civic groups. During this period, the tobacco industry spent more than two million dollars lobbying state government. The coalition’s success was based upon:
1. Effective media advocacy, including nearly 20 news conferences and extensive work with newspaper editorial boards; 2. Using staff and contract lobbyists, who conducted more than 200 scheduled meetings with legislators; 3. Unprecedented grassroots mobilization and in-district lobbying by voluntary agencies; 4. Working with the press to reveal the tobacco industry’s influence on policy-making; 5. Developing a single unifying message; 6. Developing alliances with health care industry groups.
This presentation will provide a descriptive analysis of the coalition’s decision making process and campaign strategy. It will give tobacco control and public health advocates insights they can apply to their own legislative advocacy efforts.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be familiar with strategy and tactics employed in the New York campaign which they will be able to apply to their own advocacy efforts
Keywords: Tobacco Taxation, Advocacy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Coalition for a Healthy New York
American Cancer Society
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employee of American Cancer Society, managing a SmokeLess States grant from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation