Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour wants to redirect $20 million in state tobacco funds from the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi's anti-tobacco programs to four, less focused areas of health, the Jackson Clarion Ledger reported Feb. 17.

Barbour's proposed "Healthy Kids" initiative includes anti-smoking education and advertisement, cancer research and treatment, expanded nurse programs in all school districts, and money for the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics to aid the war against drugs. Each category would receive $5 million, eliminating the entire budget of the Partnership.

Proponents of the Partnership say that Barbour's proposal would "decimate tobacco prevention in Mississippi," ending a program that is both highly functional and effective.

If the rival House Bill 1115 passes, however, it would enable legislators to continue to donate the annual $20 million to the Partnership.

Barbour, a former tobacco lobbyist, has frozen Partnership funds until the matter has been resolved. HB 1115 bill passed the Senate Appropriations Committee last Thursday; Barbour committed to veto it if passed.