Tobacco giant spends another $500,000 to kill majority-vote budget measure

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Tobacco company Philip Morris dropped another $500,000 into the campaign to defeat Proposition 25, the majority-vote budget measure on the November ballot.

The No campaign has received major funding from tobacco, alcohol and oil companies. Chevron has given more than $2.5 million directly to the campaign effort.

The No on 25 campaign is being run out of the same committee as the Yes on 26 campaign. The Proposition 26 measure would require a two-thirds vote in the Legislature to raise fees on various goods and services. Under legislative definitions, a fee raises money that is used for a specific purpose. A tax goes into the state’s general fund and can be used for any purpose.

You can track the latest donations here.

-- Anthony York in Sacramento