Posted on 12/04/2004 7:56:16 PM PST by Libloather
Editorial: Raiding the tobacco till
Friday, December 3, 2004
Three years ago, when the cash was flowing freely on Beacon Hill, Massachusetts led the nation in spending on anti-smoking programs. Voters had agreed to raise cigarette taxes to fund anti-smoking initiatives, and the state's share of the huge federal tobacco settlement brought in even more cash intended to mitigate the health effects of smoking.
That investment was paying off. National polls consistently found Massachusetts teen-agers trailing teens from around the country in smoking rates.
That was then. After years of budget shortfalls, Massachusetts has fallen to 40th place in tobacco-control spending, according to a report by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.
The numbers are stark. The tobacco settlement and cigarette taxes brought more than $666 million to the state. Three years ago, the Legislature was spending some $48 million a year on tobacco control. Anti-smoking TV commercials were on every channel; tobacco control officers visited every school and policed every convenience store. The program now has been more than decimated: Just $3.8 million is being spent on anti-smoking activities this year.
We've never felt every penny of the cigarette tax money should be spent preaching at smokers. Nor are the billions extorted from major tobacco companies sacrosanct. Using some of this cash for other needs, especially public health programs, is reasonable.
But preventing children from picking up the cigarette habit is a worthy public goal, and $3.8 million isn't nearly enough to adequately do the job. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that Massachusetts spend between $35.2 million and $92.8 million to fund an effective tobacco prevention program. The Legislature should at least aim for the low end of that range.
South Dakota - States not spending enough on smoking prevention
Wyoming - State 12th in tobacco prevention
South Carolina - State ranked last in funds for anti-smoking efforts
Washington - Spending urged for anti-smoking programs
States don't meet CDC-set spending levels for anti-smoking programs
Study: State Not Providing Enough Funds For Anti-Smoking Programs
Arkansas ranks near top in use of tobacco settlement funds
Report criticizes tobacco spending
Groups laud Miss. for its efforts to nix smoking
Tennessee lacks anti-smoking funds, group says
Missouri falters in anti-tobacco effort
Study says Mass., most other states lag on antismoking efforts
Why? with everything else the reasoning is that
"the kids are going to do it anyway."
How many filthy lying Weasels can you meet in one day? Come to Boston, stay for moments.. your job is complete!
If I had the power, I would stop all advertising by the government. I hate it.
Not surprised to see this number associated with the sordid tobacco tax. Spawned by the devil himself, no doubt.
Planned Smokerhood? I can just see fourth graders being given Zig Zag cigarette papers and tobacco, along with their condoms and sterile one-user syringes....
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