Minnesota's Anti-Smoking Fund Needs Reform May 10, 2002
News Summary
The American Cancer Society urged Minnesota's attorney general to reform the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco (MPAAT) rather than dismantle the group, the Associated Press reported May 8.Attorney General Mike Hatch wants to take away the $202 million that MPAAT administers. The money comes from the state's 1998 settlement with the tobacco industry.
Hatch has proposed transferring control of the fund to the state Health Department and the University of Minnesota. MPAAT would then focus strictly on smoking cessation, rather than smoking bans.
Considering the success that the MPAAT has had in reducing youth smoking by 25 percent, the American Cancer Society said the group should continue to have financial independence.
"To dismantle MPAAT would squander an unprecedented opportunity," said Gary Streit, vice chairman of the American Cancer Society's board of directors. The American Cancer Society has received $199,000 in research grants from MPAAT.
Streit recommended that the MPAAT reduce the size of its board, execute better conflict-of-interest efforts to prevent money from going to groups linked to board members, and form an independent panel for awarding all grants.
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