California Nurses denounce big tobacco attacks on State Assembly candidate Dennis Hay

[pickledpepperRN]

http://www.calnurse.org/cna/press/22504.html

California Nurses denounce big tobacco attacks on State Assembly candidate Dennis Hayashi

The California Nurses Association has denounced tobacco giant Philip Morris for paying for negative radio ads attacking Dennis Hayashi, Democratic candidate for the 20th Assembly District in southern Alameda county. Hayashi has the endorsement of the 55,000-member California Nurses Association (CNA).

"Philip Morris is desperately trying to stop Dennis Hayashi, because Hayashi will fight to protect the health of Californians," said Deborah Burger, RN, president of the California Nurses Association.

On February 12, Philip Morris subsidiary Kraft Foods gave $45,000 to Jobs PAC, an anti-consumer political action committee run by corporate interests. On February 24, 2004 Jobs PAC put $38,000 of that money into radio advertisements attacking Hayashi.

In recent years, tobacco companies have hidden their political contributions by using Jobs PAC as a conduit for their expenditures, said CNA.

"Voters should reject Philip Morris' devious tricks," Burger said. "Registered nurses support Hayashi because, for one thing, he is a champion of accessible health care for all Americans."

Information about Philip Morris/Kraft Foods contribution to Jobs PAC and the independent expenditure against Dennis Hayashi is reported on the Secretary of State's website:

http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1054833&view=late

With 55,000 members, CNA is the largest and fastest growing organization of registered nurses in California.