Californians for Statewide Smoking Restrictions

Californians for Statewide Smoking Restrictions (CSSR) was a front group set up in 1994 to promote Proposition 188, an unsuccessful tobacco industry 1994 ballot initiative in California that would have overturned California’s local tobacco control ordinances. Although the organization's name makes it sound like an anti-tobacco organization, CSSR was actually bankrolled by big tobacco interests, which spent more than $18 million in their effort to persuade voters to support the initiative. If passed, Proposition 188 would have watered down tough local and state smoking restrictions. Former Democratic State Assemblyman Terry Friedman called it "the most deceptive campaign in my quarter century of close observation of local politics."

Related PR Firms

 * Dolphin Group

Related Resources
Undermining Popular Government: Tobacco Industry Political Expenditures in California 1993-1994 Report describing tobacco industry activities with respect to Proposition 188.


 * http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/July-2000/7_17_2000_major_conservative.htm
 * http://www.ucsf.edu/campus/schmed/ihps/Prop188.html