Attorney General's Opinion Letter 98-2005
Topics:
Initiative petition.
Initiatives.
Summary conclusion
Review and approval of the legal content and form of a summary statement prepared pursuant to Section 116.334, RSMo, concerning the initiative petition proposal for a constitutional amendment relating to a tobacco tax.
Contents of letter
Oct. 21, 2005
Honorable Robin Carnahan
Missouri Secretary of State
James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center
600 West Main Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Dear Secretary Carnahan:
This office is in receipt of your letter of October 21, 2005, submitting to us a summary statement prepared under Section 116.334, RSMo, for a constitutional amendment relating to a tobacco tax. The proposed summary statement is as follows:
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to create a Healthy Future Trust Fund which will:
1. be used to reduce and prevent tobacco use, to treat chronic disease and increase funding for health care access and treatment for eligible low-income uninsured Missourians and Medicaid recipients, and to cover administrative costs;
2. be funded by a tax of four cents per cigarette and twenty percent on other tobacco products; and
3. be kept separate from general revenue and annually audited?
Pursuant to Section 116.334, we approve the legal content and form of the proposed statement. Because our review of the statement is mandated by statute, no action that we take with respect to such review should be construed as an endorsement of the resolution, nor as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its proponents.
Very truly yours,
JEREMIAH W. (JAY) NIXON
Attorney General