Appropriateness Pro Ensures a dedicated funding source for children's programs. Without such voter mandates, children will always be shortchanged in state and local budgets. Con Unfairly forces smokers to pay for programs unrelated to smoking, just because they are an unpopular group with voters. Pro Would reduce cigarette consumption by a minimum of 25 percent. 99, which increased the cigarette tax, cut consumption by one-third.
Studies show that price hikes in tobacco products reduce teen smoking considerably.
Con Would possibly create a black market in tobacco. A decrease in legal tobacco sales does not necessarily mean reduced consumption. By reducing cigarette purchases, Prop. 10 would reduce the amount collected in Prop. 10 says the money it raises will not be subject to the Prop. 98 guarantee, which reserves roughly 40 percent of state tax money for public education. If Prop. 10 succeeds in decreasing smoking, it will cut its own revenue for child development programs.