California Lawmakers Hear Testimony About Government's Role in Protecting Public Health

Lawmakers heard about tobacco control programs, policies to prevent injury, and investing in alternative public transportation.

State Senator Bill Monning chaired the meeting. He said there’s a continuing tension between government’s effort to protect the public, and the market that sells products that aren’t always healthy.

But Monning says a balance can be reached.

“A starting point is better public understanding of how the cost is being shifted to the taxpayer and the state from those that are making profits off promoting products that have bad health impacts,” says Senator Monning.  

Senator Monning has proposed a tax on sweetened beverages to fund obesity prevention more than once before.

He says he plans to reintroduce the measure again next year.