Proposition 99: ‘The Big Raid’

In response to your editorial “The Big Raid,� Jan. 24:

During this fall’s campaign, the tobacco companies claimed that Proposition 99 would create crime as a result of smuggling and would allow gangs to purchase handguns. Fortunately, The Times and most of the media quickly identified these claims as a hypocritical scare tactic on the part of the tobacco industry. It seems ironic that the former attorney general, now governor of California, would be the person who attempts to rip off Proposition 99 funds for improper use. The only difference is that instead of buying guns he proposes that we buy new helicopters.

His devastation of the health care services account, with the claim that he is funding a renamed indigent health care program, is a hypocritical ploy on his part to replace monies lost to Proposition 98. One of the governor’s staff recently assured me that the governor was not siding with the tobacco industry, but rather with the health providers. I am sure that this will come as a real shock to the health providers and will give the tobacco industry a good laugh.

The Coalition for a Healthy California will be working closely with legislators to provide implementing legislation which would use the funds in a way that is appropriate to the wording of the initiative, and will be lobbying on behalf of this legislation through the grass-roots organizations that have supported Proposition 99 from its inception.

W. JAMES NETHERY

Chairman

Coalition for a Healthy California