Supreme Court Puts Healthy Michigan Amendment-Reports Citizens for a Healthy Michigan

Yahoo News ^ | 10 September 2002 | Citizens for a Healthy Michigan

[SheLion]

Governor's Political Appointees Acted Improperly in Attempt to Keep Tobacco Settlement Question off the Ballot

LANSING, Mich., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizens for a Healthy Michigan reports the Michigan Supreme Court today agreed that voters statewide should have the opportunity to save the lives of thousands of citizens, reduce smoking and health care costs, and tell the politicians in Lansing they were wrong for raiding the state's tobacco settlement.

The high court upheld a Michigan Court of Appeals ruling to put the Healthy Michigan Amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot as Proposal 4. On Friday, an appeals panel had reversed an attempt by the two Republican members of the Board of State Canvassers, who had voted to keep the Healthy Michigan Amendment off the ballot.

"The people have prevailed over politics and the politicians, and the citizens of Michigan now have a genuine opportunity to save thousands of lives by sending the tobacco settlement to health care and smoking prevention," said Art Knueppel, chairman of the coalition that put the Healthy Michigan Amendment on the ballot.

On Sept. 3, GOP Canvassers Tim Ward and Elizabeth Hardy ignored a century of Supreme Court rulings and state law when they voted to keep the Healthy Michigan Amendment off the ballot. Ward and Hardy were appointed to the Board of State Canvassers by Gov. John Engler, who strongly opposes the Healthy Michigan Amendment.

Ward managed Engler's 1998 gubernatorial campaign. In addition to acting improperly, the two Canvassers trampled on the rights of more than 400,000 Michigan citizens who signed petitions to put the Healthy Michigan Amendment on the ballot.

The Healthy Michigan Amendment will require the state to spend Michigan's tobacco settlement on health care for people who are sick and dying from tobacco, and on medical research and smoking prevention programs. Special interest groups beholden to the governor along with the politicians who raided the tobacco settlement to begin with have mounted a smear campaign against the Healthy Michigan Amendment.

"Our coalition of supporters includes nearly 150 organizations dedicated to saving lives, individual small businesses, and citizens from across the state," Knueppel said. "By contrast, the list of our opponents reads like a 'Who's Who' of Lansing insiders, organizations that are beholden to the politicians who steered the tobacco settlement funds away from health care to begin with. Michigan citizens and voters will prevail on Nov. 5."

Citizens for a Healthy Michigan members include the African American Health Institute, American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, Advocates for Health Care Access, Detroit City Council, Greater Detroit Area Health Council, Michigan Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, Michigan Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, Michigan Coalition on Smoking or Health, Michigan Health and Hospital Association, Michigan Osteopathic Association, Michigan State Medical Society, Michigan Thoracic Society, Teamsters Local 299, Tobacco Free Partners, Tobacco-Free Michigan Action coalition, and many others.

The Healthy Michigan Amendment will require the state, via the constitution, to dedicate 90 percent of Michigan's tobacco settlement to health care, medical research and programs to help people quit smoking. The constitution already protects funding for Michigan roads, parks, schools, veterans, and many other programs from the politicians.

For more information, visit Citizens for a Healthy Michigan on the Web at http://www.tobaccomoney.com . The Web site provides useful information about the ballot question, how tobacco use is devastating Michigan citizens, and how Michigan is one of just three states that have failed to spend a dime of their tobacco settlements on tobacco-related health care.

[SheLion]

I don't trust ANY of the following groups! This is just a ploy for them to get more MONEY!

Citizens for a Healthy Michigan members include the African American Health Institute, American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, Advocates for Health Care Access, Detroit City Council, Greater Detroit Area Health Council, Michigan Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, Michigan Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, Michigan Coalition on Smoking or Health, Michigan Health and Hospital Association, Michigan Osteopathic Association, Michigan State Medical Society, Michigan Thoracic Society, Teamsters Local 299, Tobacco Free Partners, Tobacco-Free Michigan Action coalition, and many others.

[Dan from Michigan]

A bunch of public health fascists, especially the American Lung Association.

I'm voting hell no.

[SheLion]

"The people have prevailed over politics and the politicians, and the citizens of Michigan now have a genuine opportunity to save thousands of lives by sending the tobacco settlement to health care and smoking prevention," said Art Knueppel, chairman of the coalition that put the Healthy Michigan Amendment on the ballot.

hmmm there's the key words: save thousands of lives with smoking prevention. So! Who asks these groups that we want our lifestyles altered? Smokers know where to go to quit, if that's what they want. But for a coalition to fight against our lifestyles is WRONG!

I figured Michigan has been to quiet lately. They are gearing up to get this on their November ballot!

[SheLion]

Here is what the smokers in Michigan already pay because they choose to buy a legal product:

MICHIGAN SMOKERS' CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE ECONOMY - 2001

[Great Dane]

The Healthy Michigan Amendment will require the state, via the constitution, to dedicate 90 percent of Michigan's tobacco settlement to health care, medical research and programs to help people quit smoking.

Wasn't that the whole idea behind the law suit, does that mean the ANTI's does not get their grimy little hands on the money.

[Jaidyn]

I wish some of these non-smokers would take a leisurely jaunt through Detroit on a weekend around midnight! Now, that is what is dangerous to your health!

[Great Dane]

#1...... Guess that answers my question......... sh.t

[SheLion]

Wasn't that the whole idea behind the law suit, does that mean the ANTI's does not get their grimy little hands on the money.

This is MORE BS! Michigan has been getting MILLIONS every year from the Tobacco Settlement money, to which the smokers who pay cigarette taxes are paying into 100%. This money WAS supposed to be spent on any sick smoker on welfare, should there BE and, and for Human Health Services to set up a hotline for people who WANTED to quit.

You mean to tell me that they let this slide by for the past 3-4 years? They are just now finding out that their honey pot isn't a big as the rest of the commie states??!

The Tobacco Settlement money has created GLUTTONS!

[ozone1]

But She Lion, this is another example of government expanding the economy, If these social workers, beaurocrats, nurses, etc didn't work for the Anti smoking nazi's they'd have to get a REAL job and be productive.

[SheLion]

Now, that is what is dangerous to your health!

I hear ya, Jaidyn! We have teens in gangs and teens on drugs, teens killing themselves in twisted pieces of metal that used to be a car, because they drank and drove. Yet, all the Human Services are worried about OH MY GOD DON'T LET THE KIDS SEE, SMELL OR SMOKE TOBACCO!!!!!!

Seems these coaltions have things a little out of proportion, don't they! But of course, it's about the money! The big honey pot from the MSA! They all want their hands in the pockets of the smokers. It's time to end this chit.

[SheLion]

and smoking prevention

All this boils down is this: smoking prevention means smoking bans and control. Smoking Prevention and CONTROL.

[SheLion]

But She Lion, this is another example of government expanding the economy, If these social workers, beaurocrats, nurses, etc didn't work for the Anti smoking nazi's they'd have to get a REAL job and be productive.

What nurses? Even most of THEM have left health care! Hell, they can't smoke and relax during a break, so who needs it!

Lets face it: the anti's have their teeth sunk so deep into the smokers they are like a pack of wild dogs fighting over a piece of meat. They are all sick money grubbers.

[SheLion]

ozone! Forgot to tell you. We are losing our Doctor at Pines Health Care and they had Open House today to save goodbye to him and to say hello to the new Doctor.

While sitting in the waiting room (we got there a little early), there on the wall was this poster about all health care facilites AND the hospitals up here will be totally smoke free. Even the lots. (This is not new, but I guess they put it up as a reminder). What really pissed me off: There on the wall was this BIG poster from the Partnership for a Tobacco Free Maine with their HELP line and pushing Big Pharm anti smoking drugs.

So, there we have it. More of our money being spent on BIG POSTERS. God knows where all they have THOSE spread out! They are gearing up in Maine again, Ozone. We have to really keep our eyes out. If you hear of ANYthing happening in southern Maine, Please Please tell me.

[ozone1]

"They are like a pack of wild dogs fighting over a piece of meat."

Perfect description.

[ozone1]

Will do. There was a little flurry about the mental health patients last spring, but I haven't heard of any legislation repealing the loss of the mental health patients right to smoke.
Right now the only thing they can do in the hospital is whine at you if you light up in the bathroom or sneak outside for a butt. Or the nurses will have the doctor "talk to you".

[SheLion]

Will do. There was a little flurry about the mental health patients last spring, but I haven't heard of any legislation repealing the loss of the mental health patients right to smoke. Right now the only thing they can do in the hospital is whine at you if you light up in the bathroom or sneak outside for a butt. Or the nurses will have the doctor "talk to you".

I have been wondering what the mental health hospital patients are doing now that the idiot administrator made it all smoke free. I guess they would rather pump the patients full of high powered drugs, then let them release their stress with a cigarette. Absolutely immoral, this is.

It's all about those grants. The mental hospital probably has a new "electric shock machine" lined up that they can't afford. So, by preventing their patients from smoking, the can get this grant. Talk about Blood Money!

[ozone1]

It's been reported that doing this increases the incidence of violence towards the staff and other patients.

[Iscool]

Of course this whole thing was a fiasco from the beginning...IF the people vote for it, the insurance companies will make out big time, if they can get it away from the the welfare agencies...

If it's voted against, the gov't still keeps it to cover it's exhistance...

I'd like to see everyone quit smoking just to cheat the politicians out of their easy windfall...

[SheLion]

It's been reported that doing this increases the incidence of violence towards the staff and other patients.

It would only stand to reason, Ozone! You take away something a person loves to relax with, and it can turn a person ugly. The hospital knew the patients that smoked before they did this. Serves them right if the patients get so irate that they punch someone on the staff out. heh!

[SheLion]

I'd like to see everyone quit smoking just to cheat the politicians out of their easy windfall...

Iscool, most of us IN here are not paying into the state coffers anymore. They can pound sand! Most people are buying off of the Internet or rolling our own. I roll a beautiful carton for under $8.00!!! Compared to the $50 dollars I WAS paying, what a SAVINGS. I LOVE it!