[Tumbleweed_Connection]

WIPE THE SMILE OFF OF THIS MAN’S FACE.
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[Numbers Guy]

The argument made in support of the settlement was that the results of smoking had caused increased costs to states due to smoking-related illnesses.

In other words, states had to shift resources from other areas of the budget, or else raise taxes, in order to pay for tobacco-related illness.

Given that this funding effectively made up for cuts in other programs and tax hikes, there is no case that the tobacco settlement money *must* be spent on smoking prevention or health care or so forth.

If anything, the 20-year payout should be refunded to each state's tax payers through a reduction in each state's tax rates.

[N. Theknow]

Most Tobacco Settlement Money Being Spent Elsewhere

Instead of just posting a comment about the sky being blue or the earth being round, might I just refer you to this bit of D.O.T. brilliance.

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[BlessingInDisguise]

What a shock!