Maine ranked first in nation for anti-smoking programs/More spin and lies

Boston.com ^ | 24 July 2002

[SheLion]

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) Maine is ranked first in the nation for using its tobacco settlement money on anti-smoking and cessation programs, according to a new report.

The report, released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, lists Maine as one of only four states that fund tobacco prevention program above the minimum amount recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

[SheLion]

Maine dedicates all of its tobacco settlement funds to a variety of health programs.

Maine has its priorities crossed. Back in January, health advocates urged lawmakers to spare successful programs in anti-smoking funds.

Maine receives annually $55 million from the Tobacco Settlement, to which the smokers in Maine are paying for. Although Maine had a choice how to spend the money, it was intended for education and to pay for any sick smokers on welfare, should there be any.

House Speaker Michael Saxl said that given the $248 million budget shortfall facing the state, there must be room for some cuts in the health programs.

Attorney General Rowe said that Maine is one of the few state’s that has committed "most" of the money to health programs. I say "Show me the programs!" Most of this money is being spent on pet programs.

For instance: The Partnership for a Tobacco Free Maine is sponsoring Speedway 95, and Wiscasset Race Track. Memorial Day, the "prestigious" Partnership for a Tobacco Free Maine is awarding the winner of the Coastal 200- $10,000. With $4500 going to the runner-up.

Kick Butts Racing

I wonder how many people this money could have helped that can’t afford health insurance. I wonder how many people this would have helped in nursing homes who have no insurance. I wonder how this money could have helped with children’s nutrition, prescription drugs, child care and substance abuse.

Governor King states Maine Health Care is failing. The money PTFM is wasting at a racetrack could have been spent in a kinder more gentler way.

William Corr, executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free kids says Big Tobacco is targeting our kids, while Corr is targeting the wallets of all who pay cigarette taxes in Maine.

This is a blatant slap in the face to all that pay cigarette taxes.

Our Health Care Facilities in Maine

(The R.W. Johnson Foundation is a well-known anti-smoker industry which gets much of their enormous funding from the pharmaceutical industry, which, of course, has a very high financial stake in selling their quit smoking aids which have been proven to be largely ineffective).

The Consumers For Affordable Health of Maine is receiving until 2004, over $992,060 from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Now......where is this money going??!!

Headline: Maine receiving huge grants to increase cigarette taxes and ban smoking working hand in hand with the American Medical Association and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Read up on the real Robert Wood Johnson

RWJF Grant Recipient List is a Who's Who of the Anti-Smoking Movement. You have to look hard when you go to the Consumers For Affordable Health Care in Maine in order to find their chapter called Coalition. The Coalition Press Release released a press release in November 2000 about their war on smokers, and how they want the adult smokers in Maine to cover all the health care of all the uninsured people in Maine. When we know that the Tobacco Settlement money is to be used for this. So, where ARE they spending the tobacco settlement money, if they still need coverage for the uninsured? Someone is getting it, and it surely isn't the uninsured.

The Consumers For Affordable Health of Maine is receiving until 2004, over $992,060 from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

If Maine Health is receiving that much money from the RWJ Foundation along with the Tobacco Settlement Money, makes one wonder just where all this money is going.

[SheLion]

[Tuco-bad]

Most states use the tobacco settlement funds to give state workers larger increases in pay.

[ozone1]

The legislature is thinking of raiding this money for the deficit, which is getting worse by the week.

My question is which is worse, money for nazi propaganda or money towards the bloated socialist government of the people republic of Maine that is totally out of control?

[SheLion]

My question is which is worse, money for nazi propaganda or money towards the bloated socialist government of the people republic of Maine that is totally out of control?

ozone, I have been researching this for a long time. I have written letters to the Bangor Daily News about this, and they will not print them.

A chipmunk in the woodpile, "I" say.

[Sunshine Sister]

This is so bogus. If tobacco is so durn bad, why don't they ban it? Hypocrits!

[NetValue]

"The report called Maine, Maryland, Indiana and New Jersey 'the nation's new leaders in tobacco prevention.'"

In addition they are the most intrusive on citizens' privacy and leaders in imposing discriminatory taxes on smokers. Drinkers, and over-eaters are next. There is no line limiting these states from imposing such taxes.

[SheLion]

Letter To The Consumers For Affordable Health Care in Maine

[SheLion]

In addition they are the most intrusive on citizens' privacy and leaders in imposing discriminatory taxes on smokers. Drinkers, and over-eaters are next. There is no line limiting these states from imposing such taxes.

Especially when there are parks to glorify, race teams to sponsor and big pet programs for the DemocRATS. Oh yes, they always hit the little people to fund their outrageous life styles, don't they.

Oh! And don't forget Gov. Kings pet program for the LAPTOPS and for the APPLE CONTRACT to FIX these laptops.

[SheLion]

This is so bogus. If tobacco is so durn bad, why don't they ban it? Hypocrits!

Because............they talk out of both sides of their mouths. They spew the words SMOKE FREE EVERYTHING, but out of the other side of their mouth they say "Oh, gee whiz, we have to raise cigarette taxes because we can't balance our budget without it." (pout)

We can't raise alcohol, because too many of us drink to get through our days in the state house. We can't just CAN'T raise food tax, because we LOVE to EAT. There are only 1 out of "4" of us that SMOKE, so lets tax them! Besides, we at the state house get our smokes cheap! Lets stick it to the dirty nasty smokers in the state!

Oh yes, lets keep blaming smokers for the non-smokers having to pay so much more in health care. Lets blame it on the smokers. They are an easy target. Never mind that most smokers have their OWN health insurance! Not everyone knows that. Lets play up to the general public that is so stupid to believe that they are paying the way for the smokers! This will really get their backs up!

Plus, we have all these IMMIGRANTS on WELFARE in the state. Let the dirty smokers pay for THEM, TOO!

[ozone1]

What a legacy the King is going to have,

Worthless, outdated laptops from a dying company and a 700 million dollar deficit requiring a 6% sales tax and a 10% income tax plus an expansion of the sales tax to include all services including funerals but not lawyers fees.

Is their any hope?

[Just another Joe]

Gov. Angus King is asking the Legislature to take $6.5 million from the tobacco settlement fund called the Fund for a Healthy Maine to help ease the two-year deficit, which is likely to top $200 million.

Oh yeh, 6.5 million is REALLY going to ease that 200 million defecit.
Why do governments never realize that to have a smaller budget you have to spend LESS?
To erase a deficit you must reduce the spending so that the same amount of revenue is used to operate AND reduce debt.
If corporations worked this way they would be called Enron or Worldcom and look what happened to them.

[ozone1]

Maine wastes money better than most other states, at least were in the top 1 or 2 of something.

[SheLion]

Is there any hope?

I don't know, ozone. I am getting ready to post a thread about Baldacci being ahead in the contributions. Far out ahead of our conservative guy, Peter. I am just sick.

[SheLion]

If corporations worked this way they would be called Enron or Worldcom and look what happened to them.

Maine is so bloated, Joe, it's pathetic. The general public has NO idea how badly bloated this state is.

And Maine wants to bring in MORE immigrants, to put on welfare. Who the hell is running this state?! One Independent for the past 8 years. And the past 8 years has Maine on it's knees.

[Madame Dufarge]

''This investment is a critical one, in terms of bringing health care costs down and improving the quality and length of life of Maine people,'' she said.

How odd. I don't remember asking Dora Mills to define "quality of life" for me. Maybe I was out working in order to make my "contribution" to Doris's bloated salary when she called to ask.

[SheLion]

Maine wastes money better than most other states, at least were in the top 1 or 2 of something.

Well, at least Maine can lay claim to ONE thing! BLOAT. HEHE. But that never makes the news!

[Gaston]

In North Carolina, Settlement Money to be Divided into Two Trusts: One for Health, One for Tobacco Farmers....

http://www.tobacco.neu.edu/tcu/3-4/nc.htm

[Madame Dufarge]

Is their any hope?

None. The brain dead, whining "gimmee" population now far outnumbers the resistors of the nanny state.

Hurtling off the cliff.

[SheLion]

How odd. I don't remember asking Dora Mills to define "quality of life" for me. Maybe I was out working in order to make my "contribution" to Doris's bloated salary when she called to ask.

TWO women in Maine, ahead of the Tobacco Control Program: DORA ANN MILLS and MARY BETH WELTON.

One Representative told me that when Mary BETH has to walk past smokers to get into the state house, she puts her "prissy" nose high in the air. What a prude. BOTH of them.

I, too, can't remember asking THEM what kind of quality I should have for my life. But there they are......forcing it on me nonetheless.