Misappropriation of Funds
On November 16, 1988, the Attorneys General of 46 of the states settled a lawsuit against the tobacco companies and received $246 billion for the states to divide up and use for anti-smoking campaigns and to help pay the costs of smoking-related health problems suffered by their citizens. This seemed like a worthwhile endeavor. The health costs associated with smoking would be paid for by the very tobacco companies who, for years, had lied about health issues smoking can cause. Tobacco advertising directed at teenagers could be countered without the states having to raise to money to pay for the programs.
It is now almost 4 years later and some states have spent their portion of the funds on health and anti-smoking campaigns, but a great number of states have used to funds to balance state budgets. One in particular, North Carolina, has decided to spend their monies to help keep the tobacco farmers in business! Not what the original lawsuit had in mind.
It is time for citizens to keep tabs on the expenditures their state legislatures are making and insure the use of tobacco lawsuit settlement funds actually go for the programs they were intended, and NOT to bankroll tobacco farmers who, if they can't turn a profit in the current health-conscious climate, should be allowed to go out of business.
08/09/02 ( 444 )
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