Introduction

Tobacco-related illnesses constitute the largest category of preventable illness in the United States, costing billions of dollars and leading to disability and premature death for millions of people. The national cost to our Medicaid program alone is nearly $31 billion.

Increasing tobacco taxes is a proven strategy for reducing smoking, preventing tobacco related diseases and producing millions of dollars to support health care coverage and public health initiatives. When tobacco tax revenues are used for Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the value of the tax is at least doubled through federal matching funds.

Community Catalyst developed this guide in consultation with experienced advocates who have waged state campaigns to raise tobacco taxes and direct those revenues to health care. The guide provides specific suggestions on, and models for, coalition development, campaign structure, policy analysis, grassroots organizing, media strategy, and lobbying political officials. It is designed to help you be pro-active, as well as ready to respond to opposition tactics. The guide focuses on state-based campaigns but also discusses the benefits of, and best practices for, engaging in a regional effort.

The guide outlines a step-by-step approach, but a winning policy campaign rarely proceeds in such an orderly fashion. The sections are designed to allow easy movement back and forth among them. Included are fact sheets and materials that may be helpful to even the most experienced campaign organizers.

•    Section 1: Collecting background information and data

•    Section 2: Building and maintaining a campaign coalition

•    Section 3: Formulating strategic policy goals

•    Section 4: Organizing and mobilizing a grassroots network

•    Section 5: Developing a communications and media strategy

•    Section 6: Lobbying elected and appointed policymakers

•    Section 7: Participating in a regional campaign with neighboring states