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Tobacco Tax Supporters Making Final Campaign Push

By Kelley Weiss

Kansas City, MO – Supporters of Amendment 3, a proposed ballot question to raise taxes on tobacco in Missouri, rallied today at the Country Club Plaza. KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports.

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Supporters of the tax are in the last days of campaigning before Tuesday's vote and are trying to drive home the health risks of smoking. Cancer survivor, Rod Michael Chester, told the media he strongly supports the measure because of what smoking did to him - he can barely talk now because of lung cancer. He says increasing taxes on cigarettes by 80-cents a pack will deter people from picking up the habit.

Rod Michael Chester: "I don't want to see other people suffer like I have. I certainly don't want to see our children suffer as well."

Opponents of the proposal, Missourians Against Tax Abuse, say the measure would unfairly target a minority population and they say the amendment does not clearly state how the tax money would be used.

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