Up In Smoke?

Up In Smoke?
With $11.3 billion at stake, hundreds of groups have come forward to influence how the money is spent. See MODE Reader’s Poll to voice your own opinion.

Rest assured there won’t be two windfalls in our lifetime like the Tobacco Settlement. Pennsylvania’s share of the $206 billion settlement is $11.3 billion to be paid out over the next 24 years. The first payment, estimated at $138 million, is expected by June 30, 2000.

The Attorney General who litigated on behalf of the state, the General Assembly, and Governor Tom Ridge are churning the political machinery in order to express preferences on how the funds ought to be spent. Public hearings have drawn more than 400 groups into a database monitored by Secretary of Administration Thomas G. Paese, appointed by Ridge to make sense of the colliding points of view.

The man in the middle of it all,
Secretary of Administration
Thomas G. Paese

In June, Paese testified before the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee that Ridge had given him five guiding principles with which to evaluate proposals from outside government as well as ideas from state agencies.

Summarized, they are: (1) use funds to make Pennsylvanians healthier, a statement Ridge first made in his winter budget address to the General Assembly (2) since payments will vary annually, yearly disbursements also would vary (See payment schedule in “Tobacco Facts”) (3) open a “special account” to insure continued funding of any funded program in the event settlement details change (4) enhance existing functions of government before starting new services or programs (5) any funded programs should not significantly expand government.

Along the way, there had been wrinkles eventually smoothed over by interested parties. Allegheny County dropped its challenge to the settlement. Then, Philadelphia cancer specialist, Dr. Robert Sklaroff, fought, and lost, in court his argument that the settlement would do little to curb smoking and does not guarantee that funds will be used to protect public health.

On the front lines, Pennsylvania’s cancer centers have been pressing for $3 million to spend on research. Minority groups want some funds to subsidize nicotine “patches” for minority smokers.

Hospitals want some of the money to treat their patients who are uninsured (See “Health Care for Uninsured Suggested”). Consumer advocates, like Bill Dunn (See “The Voice of Experience: Bill Dunn”), have made pilgrimages to the Capitol. Philip Morris has launched a national campaign with hard-to-miss “We Card” stickers in retail outlets.

One elected official has opened a poll on his web site: www.senatorcosta.com/tobacco.htm. He states that “there is a very clear consensus that the settlement money should be directed into the health care area.” He suggests various health-related interventions, including curbing youth access to tobacco and insurance coverage for working adults and their children.

The clock ticks away and there’s almost nothing left but time for shoutin’. Raise your voice and fill out the MODE Reader’s Poll.