2B
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2020
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APPEAL TRIBUNE
Will Oregon voters pass tobacco, vape tax?
Measure 108
seeks $2 per
pack, $1 per cigar
Whitney Woodworth
including smoking pre-
vention and cessation
programs.
Returning after failed
effort
Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
Backers of Measure
108 hope broad, biparti-
san support and a well-
funded campaign will
push the effort to in-
crease taxes on cigarettes
and create a tax on vapes
to victory in November.
Supporters of the mea-
sure say it can save thou-
sands of lives in a state
where people pay more
than a billion dollars a
year in smoking-related
healthcare costs.
Opponents say the tax
has a disproportionate
impact on low-income
smokers and will hurt
small businesses.
A “yes” vote increases
the cigarette tax by $2 per
pack, increases the cap
on cigar taxes to $1 per ci-
gar and establishes a tax
on nicotine inhalant de-
livery systems, such as e-
cigarettes and vaping
products — which are not
currently taxed. The
funds from the tax in-
crease would be used for
public health programs
The ballot measure,
which was referred to
voters by state lawmak-
ers at the request of Gov.
Kate Brown for the Ore-
gon Health Authority, is
the first serious attempt
at raising tobacco taxes
since 2007.
Tobacco interests out-
spent proponents of the
tobacco tax in 2007 by
about $8 million, accord-
ing to reporting from Ore-
gon Public Broadcasting.
Voters shot down the
2007 proposed tax hike,
which would have funded
uninsured
children
through the Healthy Kids
Program, with the major-
ity in every county except
Multnomah County vot-
ing against it.
The Statesman Jour-
nal reported in 2007 that
“tobacco
companies
demonstrated their mus-
cle in a decisive $12 mil-
lion ad campaign.”
At the time, it was the
most expensive ballot
measure campaign in
Oregon history.
$13 million in support
This time around, pro-
ponents of the tobacco
tax increase have come
prepared with a stocked
war chest.
According to Oregon
Secretary of State cam-
paign finance records, the
Yes for a Healthy Future/
Oregonians for a Smoke
Free Tomorrow political
action committee has col-
lected $13.1 million in
campaign contributions,
with the bulk of the mon-
ey coming from hospitals
like Providence Health &
Services, Legacy Health
System,
PeaceHealth,
Kaiser Permanente and
Salem Health.
The
measure
has
gained widespread sup-
port from more than 200
organizations and sup-
porters like the American
Heart Association, the
American Lung Associa-
tion, the Oregon Associa-
tion of Hospitals and
Health Systems, the
NAACP
and
several
chambers of commerce.
No formal political ac-
tion committee opposing
the measure has been
filed with the Oregon Sec-
retary of State’s Office.
“We haven’t seen Big
Tobacco or the tobacco
lobby come in yet,” said
Stephanie
Vandehey,
communications director
for Yes for a Healthy Fu-
ture. “What we’ve known
from past campaigns is
they usually come in pret-
ty late. They have deep
pockets and they could
come in and within 24
hours drop $30 million.”
Vandehey pointed to a
survey of 1,300 likely vot-
ers earlier this summer
that indicated strong, bi-
partisan support for the
measure. Of those sur-
veyed, 68% said they
supported the measure.
That widespread sup-
port might have scared
off Big Tobacco, she said.
tomers to use online com-
panies.
They said Oregon
shouldn’t be raising taxes
during a pandemic and
worldwide recession.
The ballot measure
would increase the cost
of a pack of cigarettes
from $1.33 to $3.33 and
would also add a 65% tax
for electronic cigarettes.
The hike would bring
Oregon more into line
with
California
and
Washington when it
comes to the cost of ciga-
rettes.
Projected new annual
revenue from increasing
the cigarette tax by $2 per
pack is $134.86 million.
Impact to consumers,
businesses
8,000 deaths a year
The Taxpayers Associ-
ation of Oregon leaders,
whose political action
committee advocates for
measures and candidates
for lower taxes, submit-
ted a voter statement op-
posing the measure.
Association
leaders
said the tax would hurt
low-income consumers
the most. They also ar-
gued the tax would hurt
local neighborhood busi-
nesses selling tobacco
and vapes, and drive cus-
Vandehey said smok-
ing is the number one
cause of preventable
death in Oregon and a
huge public health con-
cern.
“We really all pay the
price for that,” she said.
“(Oregonians) pay $1.5
billion a year in smoking-
related health care costs.”
Oregon Vital Statistics
data indicates smoking
leads to nearly 8,000
deaths per year.
An analysis of the
measure by the Cam-
Obituaries
Lauretta Patricia (Pat) Schroeder
MOUNT ANGEL - Pat was born August 14, 1922 in
Antigo, Wisconsin to James and Loretta McGrath.
She was the youngest of six children. She graduat-
ed from Antigo High School in 1940 and finished
secretarial training at Antigo Vocation School in
1941. Pat moved to Clintonville, WI and worked
for Clintonville Transfer for four years. In 1946
she married Willis Schroeder and a year later they
moved to Tillamook, Oregon with their first child.
Eventually, Pat’s sister Eugenia McGrath joined
them. During the next seven years Pat worked at
Thornton and Johnson Attorneys and had three
more children. In 1954 with four children, the family moved to Monmouth,
OR. Pat worked at Central High School in Independence, OR until 1969 and
then for Oregon College of Education (now WOU) in Monmouth until 1987.
Willis (Bill) Schroeder died May 22, 1976. He was only 54 years old. Pat
was then the hub of her family.
She lived in Monmouth until 2004 where she was active in Meals on Wheels
and the Monmouth Independence Community Arts Association. During
all of her time in Monmouth Pat was part of St. Patrick Catholic Church
and its Altar Society in Independence. In 2004 she moved to the Towers and
later to Providence Benedictine Orchard House in Mt Angel, OR.
Pat had many good friends with whom she traveled, She visited Ireland,
which was the home of her ancestors, and took many trips around the US.
She was a prolific painter and had an art room in her house. She could cut
hair. She could decorate cakes into princesses, locomotives and Easter bun-
nies. She enjoyed golf and belonged to the Oak Knoll Ladies Golf Club. She
was also part of many community and church events. She liked swimming
and cross-country skiing.
People were drawn to Pat by her kindness and friendliness. Everywhere
she went she made friends, both young and old.
Her husband and all of her sisters and brothers preceded her in death.
She is survived by her children: Kathleen Ronning (Bruce), Barbara
Townsend (Dick), Karen Savage (Tom), and Jim Schroeder (Marie). Grand-
son Christopher Dunn (Brenda) and Granddaughter Erica Nelson (Steve).
Pat was fortunate to have step-grandchildren: Lucas Townsend (Ana), Matt
Townsend (Yan), and Kendall Dunning (James). Combining the families
she is survived by seven great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Orchard House, her doctor Dan
Hyde, and the staff at Willamette Valley Hospice for their dedicated care.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Western Oregon Univer-
sity Foundation for Scholarships, or Willamette Valley Hospice. Farnstrom
Mortuary is caring for the family. Memories at FarnstromMortuary.com.
Simple Cremation $795
Simple Direct Burial $995
Church Funeral $2965
SALEM
275 Lancaster Drive SE
(503) 581-6265
TUALATIN
8970 SW Tualatin Sherwood Rd
(503) 885-7800
PORTLAND
832 NE Broadway
(503) 783-3393
TIGARD
12995 SW Pacifi c Hwy
(503) 783-6869
EASTSIDE
1433 SE 122nd Ave
(503) 783-6865
MILWAUKIE
16475 SE McLoughlin Blvd
(503) 653-7076
Privately owned cremation facility. A Family Owned Oregon Business.
“Easy Online Arrangements”
www.CrownCremationBurial.com
OR-GCI0348841-02
Patricia Ann Craig
MT. ANGEL - In the early morning hours of
Saturday October 10th, Patricia Ann Craig passed
away peacefully in her home surrounded by loved
ones. Patricia (Pat) was born on February 17th,
1941 in Seminole, Oklahoma, and moved to Or-
egon as an adolescent, where she was part of the
first graduating class of North Eugene High School.
While working as an attendant on a traveling
bus route, she met a handsome driver named Eddie
Dean Craig; Patricia would sit on the steps next to
Eddie and talk any chance she could, and the two
quickly fell in love. In the Spring of 1963, Eddie
and Pat became husband and wife, and later that
year they welcomed their first son Dean. Over the
next several years, their family grew as they were
blessed with a daughter Rozanne and another son
Chris. After living in the Portland area, they moved
their family to the Mt. Angel area in 1976, where
they built a loving community of friends and fam-
ily. It is here where they spent their fondest years
passing time at Tiny’s Tavern; playing Dominoes
and Cribbage around the kitchen table; watch-
ing the local softball league play at Ebner park;
participating in the annual Christmas caroling
hayride; attending the Oktoberfest; and enjoying
large family gatherings.
The thing that Patricia valued most in life was
her family--particularly their work ethic, strong
bond, and the love they had for each other. She had
an unwavering support for her loved ones and was
constantly helping them see their own potential,
even when they didn’t. Anyone who visited with
Pat left feeling better about themselves and truly
loved. Pat took pride in never forgetting someone’s
birthday and always made sure to make them feel
special. Pat had a knack for making a person feel
as though they were the most important person
in the room, and never let anyone leave her home
without receiving one of her patented hugs. Pat’s
love and support led her to be referred to as simply
“Granny” even by those who weren’t her family,
and her genuine warmth and support made her
little corner of the world a happier place.
Patricia is preceded in death by her husband
Eddie, mother Mary, brother Bill, and daughter-
in-law Susan. She is survived by her children Dean
(Jodi), Rozanne and Chris, ten grandchildren, and
nine great-grandchildren. An intimate service was
held at Calvary Cemetery in Mt. Angel to honor
and celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers or dona-
tions, the family asks that you honor her memory
by enjoying a family meal at the table of chicken
and dumplings.
paign for Tobacco-Free
Kids, Tobacconomics and
the American Cancer So-
ciety Action Network
predicted the tax could
prevent nearly 12,000
premature deaths and
lead to almost 30,000
current smokers quitting.
Vandehey said people
are shocked when they
find out vapes are not
currently taxed, especial-
ly in the midst of a “youth
vaping epidemic.”
According to Oregon
Health Authority data,
youth vaping increased
by 80% from 2017 to 2019.
Right now, one in four
high schoolers in Oregon
report vaping. And teens
who vape are three times
more likely to start smok-
ing cigarettes, according
to national research.
With the pandemic
nixing traditional cam-
paign activities like can-
vassing and door-knock-
ing, the Yes on 108
campaign has taken to
social media, YouTube,
television ads, phone
banking and mailers.
All money collected
from the vape and tobac-
co taxes will be dedicated
to the Oregon Health
Plan, smoking prevention
and programs to help
people quit.
“We’re really trying to
get across that with Mea-
sure 108, we can reduce
youth vaping, we can
save lives and we can ac-
tually reduce the cost of
health care,” Vandehey
said.
This story includes re-
porting from the Associ-
ated Press
For questions, com-
ments and news tips,
email reporter Whitney
Woodworth at wmwood-
worth@statesmanjour-
nal.com, call 503-910-
6616 or follow on Twitter
@wmwoodworth
Miller
Continued from Page 1B
He got out of the cab of
the pickup and walked
back to release the tie-
downs on the small alu-
minum craft before back-
ing down.
The unattended truck
either popped out of park
or slipped out of gear and
began rolling backward
down the ramp.
The driver ran franti-
cally around to get in the
cab, but the water was
halfway up the door, and
the pressure kept it from
opening.
By the time he was
able to reef it open, the
water was up to the bot-
tom of the windows.
He slogged into the cab
behind the wheel and
frantically tried turning
the key, without success,
as the truck settled in the
shallows with the warm
water of the gulf just
starting to lap over the
top of the hood.
The boat struggling
mightily, and successful-
ly, to stay afloat with the
weight of the trailer pull-
ing it down.
We were agog, except
for one wag who I assume
ended up as a stand-up
comic.
As the guy was fruit-
lessly turning the key
amid the flotsam bobbing
inside the cab, angler
came up with one of the
best punch lines in mem-
ory.
Wait for it.
He cupped his hand to
his mouth and yelled at
the guy, “I think the en-
gine might be flooded.”
FISHING QUOTE OF
THE WEEK: “About 95
percent of the stuff that
you find in tackle stores is
designed to catch an-
glers, not fish” - Origin
unknown, but said by
many.
Contact Henry via
email
at
HenryMil-
lerSJ@gmail.com