The tobacco industry has paid or donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the California chapter of the NAACP and its president, but the group's leader says the money has nothing to do with the chapter's opposition to a ballot item to raise the state's tobacco tax.

The Sacramento Bee reported Oct. 12 that the public-relations firm owned by NAACP of California president Alice Huffman has been paid more than $100,000 by the campaign set up by tobacco companies to oppose the ballot measure. Moreover, Altrea, the parent company of tax-hike opponent Philip Morris, has donated between $25,000 and $50,000 annually to the NAACP chapter in each of the past five years.

California NAACP officials say the group opposes the tax because it would burden poor minority communities and increase the risk of crime by encouraging illegal sales of cigarettes. "There are lots of things that keep our people down, and regressive taxes are one of them," Huffman said.

"The NAACP lives on corporate money, and everybody who gives us money regularly, we tell them we can't be with them on every issue," she added. Addressing the consulting fees paid to her company, Huffman said, "It would be bigger news if I was president of the NAACP and I was on the opposite side of the NAACP. The NAACP does not pay me a penny, and I feel like I have a right to earn a living."

Bob Stern, president of the Los Angeles-based Center for Governmental Studies, said the NAACP's opposition to the tobacco tax can be justified: "We think it does affect poor people more," he said. On the other hand, said Stern, "It certainly is important that voters know that they're receiving funds so that voters can know what their support means."