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R.J. Reynolds Paying People To Sign Petitions
Posted by Pile
(8670 views)      [E-Mail link]
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[Get-Rich-Quick] |
 In order to repeal a non-smoking ban in some area establishments in Ohio, R.J. Reynolds company is actively recruiting people via Craigslist to go out and collect signatures at the polls to petition the state to change the law. What's most interesting about this is that the corporation is paying people $1.50 per signature they obtain from people. Am I the only one who thinks that may be pushing an issue too far? |
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The nation's second-largest cigarette maker on Wednesday signed an e-mail calling for volunteers to go to the polls during Tuesday's primary election and collect signatures.
The amendment planned for the November ballot would restrict smoking in some workplaces, but would exempt bars, restaurants, bowling alleys and other businesses.
R.J. Reynolds' attempt to change the Ohio Constitution has angered anti-smoking activists, who are offended by the company's brazenness and who fear voters will confuse the two issues. The Ohio Licensed Beverage Association, which represents bar and restaurant owners, is promoting the amendment as a question of choice.
"If people knew that R.J. Reynolds is funding the push, I think they'd think twice about it," said Ken Slenkovich, director of policy and planning for the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
A spokesman for the beverage association said his group isn't hiding anything from voters. A recent association press release listed R.J. Reynolds among a coalition of business interests advocating for the amendment.
"I don't know how much clearer we can be," said Jacob Evans of the beverage association. "We've put that information out."
The retailers group is trying to collect more than 300,000 signatures by August to put the amendment before voters in November. The group is recruiting workers on craigslist.org, a classified advertising Web site, and offering $1.50 for each signature collected. |
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so
Posted by drew on 2006-05-07 14:22:36 | | Paid signature gatherers are not uncommon, here in seattle at least. |
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