Organizing for America

DEBATE REALITY CHECK: TOBACCO

Tonight, Sarah Palin said: “Now, as for John McCain's adherence to rules and regulations and pushing for even harder and tougher regulations, that is another thing that he is known for, though. Look at the tobacco industry." [Vice Presidential Debate, 10/2/08]

The Facts: McCain Has Flip-Flopped On Tobacco Taxes

2007: MCCAIN VOTED AGAINST EFFORT TO EXPAND SCHIP TO 5.8 MILLION CHILDREN BECAUSE IT RAISED TAXES ON TOBACCO AND IT EXPANDED COVERAGE TO MIDDLE-INCOME CHILDREN

March 2007: McCain Voted Against SCHIP Reauthorization Funded By An Increased In Federal Cigarette Taxes. McCain voted against Smith, R-Ore., amendment no. 510 that would adjust the resolution and allow for an increase in federal cigarette taxes by no more than 61 cents per pack. It would assume the revenue would be used to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program. [Vote 105, SCR 21, Adopted 59-40: R 13-36; D 44-4 (ND 40-3, SD 4-1); I 2-0, 3/23/07]

August 2007: McCain Supported Bush's Veto of SCHIP And Voted Against Providing Insurance For Millions of Uninsured Children Financed By An Added Tax On Tobacco Products. McCain voted against reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program for five years, expanding the program by $35.2 billion. To offset the cost of the expansion, it would increase the tax on cigarettes by 61 cents to $1 per pack and raise taxes on other tobacco products. McCain told CNN that Bush’s subsequent veto of the legislation was the “right call by the president” because the legislation offered a “phony smoke and mirrors way of paying for it.” [2007 Senate Vote #307, 8/2/2007; 2007 Senate Vote #306, 8/2/2007; CNN, 10/3/2007 ]

October 2007: McCain Opposed Extending Coverage To Uninsured Children. On October 31, 2007, after President Bush vetoed the first SCHIP reauthorization, McCain voted against expanding SCHIP to millions of additional children. He voted against a motion to invoke cloture and bring the reauthorization forward for a vote before the Senate. The motion passed 62-33. [H.R. 3963, Vote #401 , 10/31/07]

October 2007: McCain Supported Bush’s Veto Of SCHIP Legislation Because It Raised Taxes On Tobacco. According to the New York Times, “what really sets [McCain] off is the way Congress proposes to finance the measure, which President Bush vetoed and is facing a veto override vote: an added tax on cigarettes.” [2007 Senate Vote #307, 8/2/2007; CNN, 10/3/2007 ; New York Times, 10/16/07]

Ø McCain Claimed the Reauthorization the SCHIP Bill Expanded the Program “Beyond What Congress First Intended.” In a speech on the Senate floor regarding the reauthorization of SCHIP, McCain claimed "the program has expanded beyond what Congress first intended. In some cases, SCHIP coverage has been extended to middle-income children and to certain adult populations." [Congressional Record, 8/2/07]

Ø The SCHIP Bill Would Have Expanded Health Coverage To 5.8 Million Children. Accord to the CBO, the SCHIP bill would expand coverage to 5.8 million children, 3.8 million of whom are uninsured and 2 million of whom have or have access to private health insurance. [Congressional Budget Office, 9/25/07 ]


2008: MCCAIN SAID HE WOULD NOT SUPPORT AN INCREASE ON TOBACCO TAXES

July 2008: McCain Said He Would Not Support An Increase On Taxes On Tobacco. Q: “As president, would you support an increase of the Federal tax on tobacco?” MCCAIN: “I don't think I would, because I don't think the money is being spent on the state taxes right now.” [McCain at Livestrong Summit, 7/24/08 ]