The Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association PAC received a $200,000 donation from Cheyenne International a North Carolina based company and maker of Decade cigarettes. The donation is to help fund the opposition efforts to the Proposition B proposal that would add 73 cents to the cost of a pack of cigarettes and appear on November 6th ballots. Proposition B would also increase the tax on loose tobacco by 25% and increase the tax on cigars and other tobacco products by 15%. If passed the measure would provide funding to publics schools, universities and smoking cessation programs. The Missouri PAC reportedly has $116,000 prior to the $200,000 donation. Big tobacco companies such as R.J. Reynolds and Altria claim they will not contribute to their efforts.
