Christopher Addicted to Tobbacco Money

Des Moines Register, 2/8/2006
Cigarette tax supporters berate Rants
A group points out the speaker's acceptance of money from tobacco firms.

By TIM HIGGINS
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

February 8, 2006

Supporters of an increase in the cigarette tax Tuesday accused House Speaker Christopher Rants of blocking the measure because of his campaign contributions from big tobacco firms.

"Speaker Rants should kick the habit of taking big bucks from big tobacco and help provide health care instead," said Sarah Swisher of Iowa for Health Care, a part of the Service Employees International Union.

The group held a news conference on the steps of the Capitol and had a man dressed in a cigarette costume hand out fake dollar bills representing all of the money Rants has accepted from tobacco companies over the past three years.

It included mention of the $60,000 received by a conservative political action group aimed at helping Republicans win legislative seats and the governor's office in this year's elections. Rants loaned the group money to help it get started.

Rants, a Republican from Sioux City, defended himself, saying he's long opposed tax increases. He said a tax hike would send consumers over state lines and hurt small businesses in border communities.

"I've been pretty consistent," he said. "I haven't supported raising taxes. That's not new this year. The only new thing is that somebody contributed to me."

He also noted that Gov. Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, has received $100,000 for his political action committee, Heartland PAC, from Service Employees International Union.

Swisher said Rants received more than 76 percent of tobacco-related contributions to Iowa House members in 2004. Swisher's group also handed out fliers, printed to resemble toy money, noting that Rants received about $5,000 in contributions from R.J. Reynolds and Altria Corp. during 2003 and 2004.

His 2005 records show that he accepted $500 from Altria in October.

Vilsack has proposed raising the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 80 cents and reserving the extra $130 million in new tobacco money for health care programs.

A tobacco tax increase passed the Iowa Senate last year.

Vilsack has had similar proposals in recent years that have been opposed by Rants and other House Republicans.