[alaskanfan]

But this can't be.....this money was earmarked for health assistance.

[backhoe]

I suspect that if any real investigations were done, this would prove to be as big a scam and rip-off, as, say, Lotto.

[What Is Ain't]

"This was the single biggest opportunity in the history of public health to address the most preventable cause of death in America," Attorney General Christine Gregoire (news, bio, voting record) said. "I sure hope I don't look back and say it was the biggest lost opportunity."

This person is so hopelessly naive she must be a democrat.

[Captainpaintball]

A perfect example of liberalism!

Now that the liberals are learning what Conservatives have known for years, do you think they will see the connection between their smoking lawsuits and the growing "junk food tax" movement? I don't think so.

[altair]

"In this case, the alternative is $500 million in additional cuts or in general tax increases," said Brown, a Democrat.

And, of course, cutting the budget is unthinkable.

[Parmy]

And then, some special interest group against smoking got the required signatures to put an initiative on the last ballot, here, in Washington State to raise the cigarette tax dramatically. This additional revenue was supposed to go to smoking related health issues as well.

Guess What!!!

There are so many smoker buying from the Indian smoke shakes, Canada, Idaho and Oregon that revenues are alarmingly DOWN.

Oh gee, another stupid liberal idea gone awry!!!

[Gaston]

States are not just spending the yearly checks on something else; they are spending decades of settlement payments all at once.

The states that sell and spend their shares are the smart ones. This cash cow will not last the next ten years under its current and evergrowing burden.