Miss. bill for Tobacco payment vetoed

Ledger-Enquirer.com ^ | Mar. 28, 2006 | SHELIA BYRD

[SheLion]

ACKSON, Miss. - Gov. Haley Barbour on Monday vetoed a bill that would continue to allow the Mississippi Legislature to give $20 million a year to a private, nonprofit anti-tobacco organization.

In his veto message, Barbour said "the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi has been cloaked in politics and cronyism."

The Partnership has received $20 million a year by court order since 2000. The money comes from a massive lawsuit Mississippi settled with tobacco companies in 1997.

Barbour, a Republican, sued in 2005 seeking to halt payments to the Partnership, which is led by former Attorney General Mike Moore, a Democrat.

Moore filed the landmark lawsuit against the tobacco industry. At the time, Barbour was a Washington, D.C., lobbyist representing some tobacco companies. Barbour has said his Washington record has not influenced his position about the Partnership money.

A spokeswoman for the nonprofit disagreed.

With the veto, "Haley Barbour looks like he continues to protect the interest of big tobacco," said Sharon Garrison, the Partnership's communications director.

The Partnership operates several anti-smoking programs, many of them targeting Mississippi teens. The group has received national recognition for its programs, which are credited with reducing underage smoking.

In addition, the group helps pay for school nurses and offers tobacco treatment services.

Barbour said the Partnership has received $100 million since 2000, but there's no public accounting of how the money was spent.

"The Partnership's argument is to give the Partnership another $20 million and then they'll tell us what they did with the other $100 million. I was born at night, but it wasn't last night," Barbour said.

The Partnership says it has provided copies of its audits by a private firm to lawmakers, and a provision in the bill required regular state audits of the group.           

[SheLion]

Hooray for the Governor who finally sees the truth!!!!

With the veto, "Haley Barbour looks like he continues to protect the interest of big tobacco," said Sharon Garrison

Of course!  Anytime someone on OUR side speaks up, we are working for Big Tobacco!  More spin and lies from Sharon Garrison who doesn't want to "lose the money!"

In addition, the group helps pay for school nurses and offers tobacco treatment services.

Oh wow!  $20 million for THIS!!!!  How about all of your pet programs, Sharon?  You sure fail to mention THOSE!!! 

Barbour said the Partnership has received $100 million since 2000, but there's no public accounting of how the money was spent.

NO PUBLIC ACCOUNTING OF HOW THE MONEY WAS SPENT????!!!!!  That says a MOUTH full!!!

Barbour said the Partnership has received $100 million since 2000, but there's no public accounting of how the money was spent.

 

[SheLion]

The truth comes out!

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[SheLion]

Read how much Mississippi smokers pay into the state economy every time the pay taxes on cigarettes.  And where does this money go?  Your guess is as good as mine!

Mississippi Information

Mississippi's excise tax per pack of cigarettes: $0.180
Mississippi's excise tax collection for the
fiscal year ending June 2002: $47,071,000

Sales tax on tobacco products: 7.00%

Federal excise tax per pack of cigarettes: $0.39
Total federal excise tax collections in fiscal year 2002: $7,512,700,000

Comparing Excise Taxes on Cigarettes, Beer and Wine

Number of six-packs of beer that must be sold in Mississippi to produce the same state excise tax revenue generated by one carton of cigarettes: 7.5

Number of bottles of wine that must be sold in Mississippi to produce the same state excise tax revenue generated by one carton of cigarettes: 26

Mississippi Smokers' Contributionsto the State Economy - 2001

Mississippi smokers comprise only 23.5% of the adult population in the state. Here is what they already pay because they choose to buy a legal product:

Smokers Pay Excise Taxes1	$	48,346,560
Smokers Pay Sales Taxes1	$	56,404,320
Smokers Pay Tobacco Settlement Payments2	$	203,800,000
	$	308,550,880

[Smokin' Joe]

What does the rest of his record look like? He would be a shoe-in for 20% of the vote based on this alone!

[metesky]

All these anti-tobacco groups are just more self-interested non-governmental organizations.

Not one NGO should receive a dime from the taxpayers for any purpose. If they are popular worthwhile causes, folks would voluntarily send them all the money they need.

[SheLion]

[SheLion]

What does the rest of his record look like? He would be a shoe-in for 20% of the vote based on this alone.

It doesn't matter!  He is bringing out the truth of how the tobacco money is being spent. And most of it is going for pet programs and bogus programs!

Like Maine uses the money to sponsor "5 race car teams" and various tracks across the state.  AND they gave a little old lady this money to plant a GARDEN in the center of Ellsworth, Maine.

MASS used $175,000 of this money to build a BIG golf course!  The states are bilking the smokers who pay taxes on cigarettes!  This money is NOT going for HEALTH care!

[SheLion]

All these anti-tobacco groups are just more self-interested non-governmental organizations.

Not one NGO should receive a dime from the taxpayers for any purpose. If they are popular worthwhile causes, folks would voluntarily send them all the money they need.

metesky, when this money started coming into the states, it made complete gluttons out of the lawmakers.  They can't spend it FAST enough.

And of course the Partnership for a tobacco free everything is screaming, because if this money stopped going to them, they would be out of their cushy jobs!!!

All these anti-tobacco groups are just more self-interested non-governmental organizations.

Not one NGO should receive a dime from the taxpayers for any purpose. If they are popular worthwhile causes, folks would voluntarily send them all the money they need.

metesky, when this money started coming into the states, it made complete gluttons out of the lawmakers.  They can't spend it FAST enough.

And of course the Partnership for a tobacco free everything is screaming, because if this money stopped going to them, they would be out of their cushy jobs!!!

[Madame Dufarge]

With the veto, "Haley Barbour looks like he continues to protect the interest of big tobacco," said Sharon Garrison, the Partnership's communications director.

The Big Nannies see the spectre of having to get an honest job looming on the horizon.

Must be scary.

[vetvetdoug]

We do know the Black Legislative Caucus has received several million dollars from the Tobacco Settlement under Mike Moore's management. That is why when I see a black legislator spouting how bad Barbour is on TV I just know he's a sellout crying because his teat is about to be cut off.

[SheLion]

The Big Nannies see the spectre of having to get an honest job looming on the horizon.

Yep!

No wonder they are screaming.  Being paid by the cigarettes taxes and all.  If this money stops, these idiots will be OUT OF A JOB YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

[SheLion]

I just know he's a sellout crying because his teat is about to be cut off.

YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[stone fortress]

PING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!

[383rr]

Un-real. We gotta give this guy a round of applause.

[SheLion]

Un-real. We gotta give this guy a round of applause.

You know it.  One Governor that is not afraid to stand up for what is right.  I applaud him!!!