The American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and Next Generation California Tobacco Control Alliance are united in fighting the recent budget cuts to California's tobacco control program by urging the Governor, legislative leadership and Budget Conference Committee to support a 15-cent tobacco tax (on top of Governor Davis' proposed 50-cent tobacco tax) for tobacco control programs. The current version of the state budget will cripple California's tobacco control program and lead us back to high smoking rates, especially by youth. The current version of the budget would 1) Cut in half the state's landmark tobacco prevention and control program; 2) Eliminate the "Anti-Tobacco Youth Program", which represented the only appropriation from state tobacco settlement funds for tobacco control; and, 3) Bankrupt California's tobacco settlement fund. The future annual costs to the state for receiving $4.5 billion now from the tobacco settlement fund will eat up virtually all future tobacco settlement payments. The Budget Conference Committee will be making final decisions on the state budget before it goes back to the Senate and Assembly for a vote, and then to Governor Davis for his signature. Please help NOW by contacting the Governor, Legislative Leadership and the Budget Conference Committee members and urging them to add 15-cents to the Governor's 50-cent tobacco tax proposal.