New York:County putting tobacco money into infrastructure

Buffalo.com ^ | 4 November 2002

[SheLion]

Erie County Executive Joel Giambra has announced plans to use $30 million of tobacco proceeds to repair roads and bridges.

A study of the condition of the county's infrastructure revealed that 55 percent of the 155 bridges are deteriorated, with 30 percent in serious disrepair or obsolete. The "Needs Assessment" report compiled by the Public Works Dept. estimated it would take $600 million to make necessary improvements to roads and bridges in the county.

Giambra said he will propose $20 million be set aside in the 2003 budget for infrastructure maintenance, plus spending $30 million from the county's share of money received from settlements with tobacco companies.

[SheLion]

Just terrific!  Spending the Tobacco Settlement money for roads and bridges!

Does the general public know that the Tobacco Settlement Money is being paid 100% by smokers who pay taxes on cigarettes? NOT Big Tobacco and NOT the Government.  But the SMOKERS!!!

And we have NO say about where this money is being spent.  New York also spent $70,000 on a GOLF COURSE.   Did we have a say about THAT?  Hell no!

And yet, the state wants a Smoke Free Everything! They want our money though, don't they.

The Tobacco Settlement Money was supposed to be spent on tobacco education or for health care for a sick smoker on welfare, should there be any. BUT!  Look where it's going. Surely not for the sick person on WELFARE! This disgusts me............

[SheLion]

[BenLurkin]

I'm not too keen on the "settlement" but spending on roads and brides is about the smartest thing a public entity could do right now with an influx of money. Infrastructure back east is badly deteriorated and need replacment regardless. Concrete well placed (supports the economy) and well poured (not sloppy "government work")is the most productive use of money for any local government.

[BenLurkin]

bridges, not "brides".

[SheLion]

I'm not too keen on the "settlement" but spending on roads and brides is about the smartest thing a public entity could do right now with an influx of money. Infrastructure back east is badly deteriorated and need replacment regardless. Concrete well placed (supports the economy) and well poured (not sloppy "government work")is the most productive use of money for any local government.

NO! YOUR WRONG! Do you smoke? If you don't smoke, then of course you think this money is well spent. But why should 25-30% of the people pay for this? Why not the whole STATE? And if you don't smoke, then of COURSE you think it's great. After all, it's not YOUR money being used by the state!

[steve50]

It's amazing that in this short a time they've gone from "taxing" the product to help fund health care related SMOKING costs to just sticking a small percentage of the population for $$$ for anything they want.

[SheLion]

It's amazing that in this short a time they've gone from "taxing" the product to help fund health care related SMOKING costs to just sticking a small percentage of the population for $$$ for anything they want.

Just goes to show you that it ISN'T about health care and it's NOT about a Tobacco Free State, doesn't it? IT'S ABOUT THE MONEY! They could care less about the health care of the people.

And taxing 25-30% percent of the people to high heaven on a legal product, and making 20-30% of the people to balance budgets and carry the whole state is just plain wrong!

[Great Dane]

Gee....... and here we thought the money was suppose to cover the cost of smoke related illnesses, could it be that smokers don't get sick anymore than the non-smoking population. ??

[SheLion]

Gee....... and here we thought the money was suppose to cover the cost of smoke related illnesses, could it be that smokers don't get sick anymore than the non-smoking population. ??

Great Dane.....this is asinine! The MSA money was supposed to go to sick smokers on welfare SHOULD there be any and tobacco education. Since there was nothing but a "Gentlemen's Agreement" between Big Tobacco and the Attorney Generals, the states can use this money any way they see fit. And "seeing fit" is NOT doing what it should be doing.

They are using this money in part to banning, controlling, restricting smokers, and using the rest to build roads, build golf courses AND sponsoring race teams and race tracks.

Pretty foul, eh? The MSA has created a MONSTER!

[chiefqc]

But don't you understand, the money taken from this fund is being replaced by IOU'S just like Social Security Fund. It will be replaced, honest!

Sureeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it will.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

[Just another Joe]

The state government doesn't, and never did, care one whit about the health of smokers OR the health care costs that smokers incurred.
The MSA was all about money that the states could use any way they wanted to.
Of course they SAID that they would use it for smokers health causes but it NEVER got put into writing anywhere so why NOT use it wherever they need it.
They have no one to answer to for using it in any way they see fit.