Governor Bill Richardson Signs Legislation for 75 Cent per Pack Cigarette Tax Increase

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson took a major step forward in protecting New Mexico's children from tobacco-related addiction and disease when he signed into law House Bill 3, a bill passed during the recent special session, increasing the tax on cigarettes by 75 cents per pack. The 75-cent increase brings New Mexico's tax to $1.66 per pack, ranking it 18th highest in the country and well above the current national average of $1.34 per pack.

House Bill 3, sponsored by Representatives Gail Chasey and Danice Picraux in the House of Representatives and Senators Dede Feldman and Mary Jane Garcia in the Senate, was the last bill passed during the 2010 special session.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, along with the American Lung Association, American Heart Association, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and New Mexicans Concerned About Tobacco championed the cigarette tax increase in New Mexico to provide current smokers an incentive to quit and to prevent youth from starting to smoke.

Currently in New Mexico, an estimated 279,000 adults and 22,000 youth smoke. Research has consistently shown that every 10 percent increase in price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking by 7 percent and cuts overall consumption by about 4 percent.

The increased tax will generate about $33 million in revenue for the state in the first year. The revenue from the tax increase will be directed to help offset cuts to various programs such as education, early childhood education, Medicaid, and other health services funded by the state's general fund.

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Hosts NM Lobby Day 2010

Nathan Bush (left), Government Relations VP for ACS CAN, was one of a number of speakers during a 2010 Lobby Day press conference in the New Mexico state capital rotunda.

Survivors, volunteers, caregivers, family and friends visited their New Mexico legislators on Thursday, January 28th urging them to pass a $1.00 cigarette tax increase and to protect master Settlement Fund Agreement funding for tobacco use and prevention control programs.

State Representative Brian Egolf and State Senator Dede Feldman both spoke of their support for a cigarette tax and their sponsoring bills regarding that tax. This tax was expected to generate over $30 million in recurring revenue earmarked for public schools, reduce the number of youth who start to smoke, and relieve the health cost burden on taxpayers for tobacco related health costs.

Opposing the bill was several tobacco lobbyists and representatives from several business groups. The House Business and Industry Committee eventually voted to table the bill effectively killing it during this short 30-day session.

Despite this bill being tabled numerous volunteers and advocates helped voice their support of ACS CAN legislative priorities and programs to help hold the line despite the budget crisis New Mexico faces.

To learn more about ACS CAN contact Traci Cadigan, New Mexico government relations director, at 505-559-9426 or Paula Wackenheim, New Mexico grassroots relationship manager, at 505-262-6014.

Las Cruces Sun-News Helps Get Word Out About Cancer Resource Center

Vicki Nisbett, of the Las Cruces Sun-News ("Healthy U" magazine), did an extensive article and a photo on the Las Cruces Cancer Resource Center (LCCRC) which was posted on the paper's Web site January 5. This CRC is located inside the Southern New Mexico Cancer Center (SNMCC) in Las Cruces and provides free services and support for cancer patients, their family and friends, and caretakers. The article provides info about the CRC and lets the local community know we have volunteer opportunities available. The LCCRC Chair Marie Roberts was interviewed as well as SNMCC Doctor Constance Wash. The Society appreciates Vicki Nisbett's and the Sun-News' help in getting the word out. To view the article online please click on the following link: http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-healthy_u/ci_14126735

Giving Back to the Roswell Community--Wayne Kirkpatrick

Wayne Kirkpatrick, of Roswell Radio, helped develop a public service announcement for the American Cancer Society's Cancer Resource Center in Roswell, NM. The PSA was developed for free and will air in the coming months to help the community there become more aware of the free services and programs available at the resource center located inside the Eastern NM Medical Center. The PSA will also hopefully attract more volunteers to help the society provide those services and programs. At a young age Kirkpatrick lost his mother to cancer and he felt it was important to help others in his community battling this disease.

RUNNER'S WORLD to Feature Cancer Activist's Journey Across Three States - PRNewsChannel.com

RUNNER'S WORLD to Feature Cancer Activist's Journey Across Three States - PRNewsChannel.com

Dustin Hucks 1,300 journey on foot in support of his Aunt Debbie, who is battling cancer, and the American Cancer Society took him from Southern California through Arizona and New Mexico on his way to Texas. On his journey to raise awareness and money for the American Cancer Society he encountered many obtacles. However, he also found many unexpected friends and supporters from Society staff to complete strangers. Read more about his journey in the upcoming April 2010 issue of Runner's World.

Please Join Us for the 2010 ACS CAN New Mexico Lobby Day on January 28!

Courtesy Paula Wackenheim,
ACS CAN New Mexico Staff *


Please Join Us for the 2010 ACS CAN New Mexico Lobby Day!

Who: Cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and advocates

What: Advocate for Legislation that will benefit cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and their family and friends.

When: Thursday January 28, 2010 from 9:30.a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Press Conference at 1 p.m. in the Capitol Rotunda

Where: Roundhouse - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Why: In a very tight fiscal year for the state of New Mexico we need advocates like you who are willing to advocate so that important programs like the New Mexico Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Programs don’t face cuts. We will also be advocating for a tobacco tax, which will help the state generate revenue and curb the rates of youth who start smoking – a Win-Win for the state of New Mexico.

Transportation: There will be two groups meeting to take the RailRunner to Santa Fe, if you would like to join them they will be meeting at the Bernallio County RailRunner Station (off of Rio Bravo in ABQ) at 7:00 am or at the Los Ranchos/Journal Center station at 7:25am. The groups will be riding the 4:10pm train back from Santa Fe and will be arriving in ABQ between 5:30-6pm depending upon which stop.

If you choose to drive parking is available at Garrett's Desert Lodge in Santa Fe for $7 for the day.

Additional Details:

Lobby Day this year will consist of legislative visits and a press conference at 1pm in the Capitol Rotunda. Those planning to attend Lobby Day will be asked to attend a pre-lobby day training phone call on either Monday January 25 or Wednesday January 27at 4 p.m.

On Lobby Day, Thursday January 28, attendees will pick up a lobby day “survival kit”, which will include a light breakfast, and make visits to their legislators’ offices. Attendees will also be asked to attend the press conference at 1 p.m.

If you are unable to attend Lobby Day, please plan on participating in our statewide call-in day, which will occur in conjunction with Lobby Day on January 28. More details to follow.

For additional information please contact Paula Wackenheim at paula.wackenheim@cancer.org

*ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.acscan.org.

Seventeen local women donate hair to help cancer patients

UNM School of Medicine in conjunction with the
American Cancer Society and local salon team up for charity event

Mary Seiler, a 2nd year medical student at the University of New Mexico, displays the hair she donated December 5 at a local Pantene Beautiful Lengths event – a charity hair cutting event to benefit women who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments. Pantene Beautiful Lengths is a program done in partnership with the American Cancer Society. As wigs are created, they are distributed by the Society for free through wig banks in New Mexico and across the country. Seiler was one of 17 women who donated at this event. The organizers from the UNM School of Medicine were Brandy Padilla-Jones and Micaela Esquivel and the salon who hosted the event and donated their time for the cuts was Skin Bliss in Old Town. Women facing cancer can find out about the availability of a wig by calling the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345. The Society can also help callers with a number of resources providing educational and emotional support.