Cigarette seller wants revocation of Prop. 10

TIMES STAFF

SACRAMENTO -- A tobacco retailer is launching a bid to repeal Proposition 10, which voters approved last fall to increase the state's cigarette tax by 50 cents a pack.

Ned Roscoe, one of five owners of the chain of Cigarettes Cheaper stores, said Monday that he hopes to put an initiative on the March 2000 ballot to overturn Prop. 10, which raises money for early-childhood development programs.

Higher cigarette taxes have driven more price-conscious shoppers to his discount chain, Roscoe said, but Prop. 10 so annoys his customers that he plans to spend about $1 million trying to put the repeal on the ballot.

An American Lung Association of California spokesman said it would fight any repeal effort, because higher cigarette taxes are a good way to discourage smoking.

Once the initiative receives a title and summary from the state Department of Justice, Roscoe and his supporters will have 150 days to gather signatures from 419,260 registered voters.

Roscoe said he not only objects to the higher tax, but believes it is unlikely that the county commissions created by Prop. 10 will create good programs to help young children.

State officials estimate that the tax will raise more than $1 billion during the next 1½ years. County commissions throughout California then decide how to spend that money on programs designed to help children up to age 5.