Director Rob Reiner threatens hospitals on ballot issue

AP via Fresno Bee ^ | November 18, 2005 | MICHAEL R. BLOOD

[Amerigomag]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Hollywood director Rob Reiner warned the California Hospital Association Friday to withdraw or rewrite a ballot proposal it's pushing for 2006. "If the initiative remains in its current form, I will have no other option but to actively and aggressively oppose it," Reiner said in a letter to C. Duane Dauner, the association's president.

Reiner championed a 1998 ballot proposal slapping a 50-cents-a-pack tax on cigarettes to fund health and education programs for children up to 5 years old, now known as First 5 California. In his letter, Reiner argued the hospital proposal, which calls for a $1.50 tax on each pack of cigarettes to fund emergency rooms and other health programs, would slash First 5 funding. Reiner, who finds himself in the awkward position of arguing against a tax increase that could decrease smoking, pegged the loss at $34 million.

When asked if the hospitals' campaign would drop or revise its proposal considering Reiner's complaint, spokeswoman Kris Deutschman said, "We have to move forward with the priority of keeping emergency rooms open. We would invite and encourage all parties to come join us." In a later phone call, she said the group would be eager to discuss the issue with Reiner.

[Amerigomag]

As California rots the vultures are circling the carcus. This bickering over the spoils has the grace of a food fight inside the inmate cafeteria at Dachau.

[cynicom]

Meathead needs a brain transplant, his mouth works full time as usual.

[ElkGroveDan]

the hospital proposal, which calls for a $1.50 tax on each pack of cigarettes to fund emergency rooms

Why only $1.50 per pack if it's such a good cause? Why not $2 or $5 or $30 per pack? Think of all the money they could raise!

[DB]

This is a local LA thing isn't it?

[ElkGroveDan]

This is a local LA thing isn't it?

Nope. It's proposed for the statewide ballot.

[HawaiianGecko]

	"If the initiative remains in its current form, I will have no other option but to actively and aggressively oppose it," Reiner said in a letter to C. Duane Dauner, the association's president.   What a narcissist!

 

 

[Amerigomag]

For those not from California this is an ironic, state wide battle. Reiner and other influential liberals attempting to provide supplemental education for Mexico's poor and California's hospitals fighting to stay solvent in the face of the onslaught from that same, unregulated, immigrant class.

[Lawgvr1955]

I believe we are entering the death throws of taxation of tobacco. The tax is so high that cities and states that have imposed high taxes are losing revenue. Some states are now imposing a tax on those who have purchased tax free smokes from Indian tribes. My state, Illinois, is enforcing its one carton law to keep cheap smokes from Kentucky from lowering revenue further.

The libs don't want smokers to quit, they only want to fleece them as much as possible. Smokers should all go on a 30 day "fast" and let the governments know they are killing a golden goose.

[Brilliant]

"We all share the goal of reducing the harmful effects of smoking and improving access to health care," Reiner wrote.

Everyone except you, Mr. Reiner. You're willing to sell out that goal in exchange for a few more tax dollars.

[ElkGroveDan]

Yeah, I've been thinking that too.

The PC crowd isn't as keen on the annual Great American Smoke Out as they used to be. You just don't hear about it as much as you used to, and we all know why.

[Buck72]

Did he threaten to eat them?

[Brad from Tennessee]

Rob Reiner reminds me of the proverbial flea lying on his back on a leaf floating down the river while masturbating and yelling, "Open the drawbridge!"

[tubebender]

First Five spends more money advertising for subjects then on the kids. It is nothing more than a continuing campaign for the Cradle to Grave brainwashing the kids against their parents.

[HawaiianGecko]

	Best I've heard in a while.

 

 

[sheik yerbouty]

Who the #%#@ is this #$%%#@# meathead to go around making threats?

[freekitty]

You would think this guy thinks he is God.

[Pharmboy]

Like other than Barbra Streisand, who would care what he does?

[Ken H]

I'd say an additional $1.50/pack tax would set the right conditions for a thriving black market in CA, if there isn't one already.

[Nomorjer Kinov]

I would suggest the hospitals begin lobbying for a $2 per 100 foot surcharge for each showing of each print of a motion picture. With all the movie theatres playing movies at almost all times, there is bound to be some money to be made. The motion picture industry has gotten away with ruining health for far too many years.

High fat hot butter ... high calorie sugary candies ... high fat, trans-fat ice cream ... high calorie sugary sodas ... tooth-decay inducing gums and candies ...

Heart disease, high blood pressure, acne, you name it and the movie industry has contributed to it.

It's time to make them pay!

[mugs99]

This is a Hollywood scam. Twenty cents of that fifty cents goes directly to Hollywood and is managed by Rob Whiner. Hollywood is the only industry in America that collects taxes from the public. I'm sure Rob would like to raise the tobacco tax and increase his income.
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