Tobacco Poll Results

MODE Readers’ Tobacco Poll Results -
Use for Health Care

MODE Tobacco
Survey Results

Respondents
Male 31%
Female 69%

Age
Overall Average Age 36
Average Male Age 39
Average Female Age 35

Political Affiliation
Democrat 44%
Republican 30%
Independent 25%
Liberal 1%

Use of Funds
Health care funding for the poor 72%

Cancer research 20%

Classroom education 2%

Smoking prevention 2%

Spousal abuse programs 2%

No settlement should be made 2%

Location
Dauphin County 23%
Cumberland County 19%
Perry County 2%
York County 4%

Out of Region
Luzerne County 2%
Bradford County 2%
Philadelphia 2%

Out of State 46%
Alabama, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas

Although MODE readers and Governor Tom Ridge agree that the lion’s share of tobacco settlement funds ought to go towards health care, others think the money ought to go to them. On the heels of tabulating readers’ poll results and Ridge releasing his tobacco-spending plan, a suit was filed on behalf of smokers and others who want a different distribution of the funds. Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has denied the last remaining appeal on the state’s settlement with tobacco companies.

Last week Ridge announced Pennsylvania’s Health Investment Plan which directs funds to a number of health and related programs. In its first installment, Pennsylvania received $123 million. A second check for $142 million was due last month. Several hundred groups have let state government know how they think the windfall — $11.3 billion over 25 years — should be spent.

Here’s what MODE readers had to say.

"As a mother of a 13-year-old child, I hope for a tough campaign to discourage children from smoking," wrote one respondent. Interestingly enough, only one respondent chose "smoking prevention" as the place where state government ought to direct funds.

Another respondent said, "My mother has been diagnosed with lung cancer and there is no cure. It is partially due to her exposure to second hand smoke." Flip side, another wrote, "Anyone who is still smoking after 20 years of non-smoking campaigns KNOWS what’s in store. Why do they deserve compensation?" For clarification, there is no indication that any of the state’s $11.3 billion settlement will go directly to former smokers. Likewise, another person said that "It’s about time we took responsibility for our own actions, no one makes us smoke," a hotly debated point during congressional hearings in which inquisitors shredded tobacco company executives who "marketed" kids to smoke and be cool in their now-defunct ad campaigns.

Overall, respondents want to see the money fund health care — for the poor, to lower costs, to help with cancer research. A cancer cure, "is long overdue … But I doubt it will happen in my lifetime … because the money is in the medicine not the cure," said one person."

One respondent thought that the funds should go back into the state budget, but not "for building a new sports complex. How about high speed monorail for commuters?" Another wondered about tobacco farmers and advised the state "Give some of the money back to the tobacco growers so they can grow something healthy for us." Improving classroom education and more funds for spousal abuse programs each received one vote.

One respondent sounded-off that, "There should be no settlement. This is a legal product. Why don’t we have a settlement on political soft money … because of the bureaucrats and the elites who really run this country. Next we’ll see kids shoot each other over black market cigarettes." Similarly, one respondent thought we should just declare nicotine a "drug" and take it off the market and treat smokers as the addicts they are."

One unrelated comment came from a fellow and his wife who often visit Harrisburg — "It can be dull on weekends."