| For Immediate Release August 23, 2006 |
Contact: Jennifer Friedman 202.296.5469 |
Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund Launches Campaign in Support of Jim Rosapepe For Maryland State Senate
Washington, DC - The Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund today launched an independent, direct mail campaign in support of Maryland State Senate candidate Jim Rosapepe because of his leadership in working to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. The campaign will contrast the records and positions of Jim Rosapepe and his Democratic primary opponent, John Giannetti, highlighting Rosapepe's strong support for a statewide smoke-free workplace law that would protect all Maryland workers and families from secondhand smoke.
"We're running this campaign in Maryland because of the clear contrast between the records of these candidates when it comes to fighting tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke," said William V. Corr, Executive Director of the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund. "Jim Rosapepe is standing up to Big Tobacco and fighting to protect everyone's right to breathe clean, smoke-free air. His opponent, on the other hand, has not supported efforts to make Maryland smoke-free. For Maryland voters who care about protecting the health of workers and families, there is a clear choice: Jim Rosapepe for Maryland State Senate."
Legislation in Maryland that would make all workplaces smoke-free died in a Maryland House committee last year. Jim Rosapepe supports a strong, statewide smoke-free law in Maryland. His opponent, John Giannetti, has voted in support of special interests, including the tobacco industry, and has not supported the smoke-free legislation.
The need for protection from secondhand smoke has never been clearer. In issuing his groundbreaking report on secondhand smoke on June 27, U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona stated, "The debate is over. The science is clear: Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance, but a serious health hazard that causes premature death and disease in children and nonsmoking adults." The Surgeon General found that secondhand smoke is a proven cause of lung cancer, heart disease, serious respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and asthma, low birth weight and sudden infant death syndrome. The Surgeon General also found that secondhand smoke is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in the United States each year and that there is no risk-free level of exposure.
The Surgeon General's report also confirmed that smoke-free laws protect health without harming business. To date, 14 states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico have passed smoke-free laws that include restaurants and bars. The states are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii (effective Nov. 16), Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and Washington (the Montana and Utah laws extend to bars in 2009, while the DC law does so on January 1, 2007).
View a sample of the direct mail.
The Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund is a non-partisan 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that works to reduce the devastating toll of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke by mounting advocacy and electoral campaigns to support anti-tobacco policies. The Action Fund is dedicated to educating voters about positions on tobacco-related issues taken by candidates seeking public office at the state, local and federal level and to advocating for proven solutions to reduce tobacco use and its terrible toll in health, lives and money. For more information visit www.tobaccofreeaction.org.