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Tobacco industry behind smoking ban CASPER, Wyo. (AP) – The tobacco industry funded more than three-quarters of a campaign against a proposed restaurant smoking ban, according to a report filed with the Natrona County Clerk’s office. The Casper Hospitality Coalition, a political action committee, revealed that tobacco companies made nearly $78,000 in monetary and in-kind contributions, out of $103,000 raised overall. That’s compared to $12,050 in monetary donations and $27,003 in in-kind contributions to Casper Citizens for Healthy Indoor Air. In all, the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Americans for Nonsmokers Rights, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids gave about $34,050 in contributions to the “Vote Yes” campaign. Lynne Whalen, executive director of the Natrona County Medical Society, said she and other restaurant smoking ban supporters believed all along that tobacco industry money was behind the “Vote No” campaign. “We believe whenever an anti-smoking issue comes up on the ballot or through legislation, big tobacco spends money to defeat those kinds of initiatives,” she said. Casper voters defeated the ordinance 52 percent to 48 percent last month. The pro-ban activists released their list of contributors 12 days before the election and challenged the Casper Hospitality Coalition to do the same. The ban’s opponents said they would release their list within 10 days after the election as required by law. According to the Casper Hospitality Coalition report, the group received $45,860 in individual campaign contributions, $40,746 in in-kind contributions and $16,203 in loans. By far the largest contributor to the “Vote No” campaign was Phillip Morris Corp., which donated $31,944 in monetary and in-kind contributions. Other big tobacco contributions included $12,500 from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., $22,770 from Brown and Williamson and $10,781 from Lorillard Tobacco Co. Paul Ulrich, marketing and communications director for the Wyoming Lodging and Restaurant Association, said the group aggressively solicited contributions from all sources after learning that large national health organizations were heavily supporting the “Vote Yes” campaign. “We went out to everybody we could think of, including tobacco companies, for support,” he said. “We’ve had a tremendous amount of support from individuals and organizations.” Ulrich said the Casper Hospitality Coalition received about $11,080 in monetary and in-kind contributions from Wyoming individuals, businesses and organizations, the bulk of them from Casper. Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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