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DrugScreening.org


 
Ohio Lawmakers Look to Kill Off Tobacco Prevention Foundation
May 1, 2008

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News Summary

Some Ohio lawmakers believe they have the ultimate resolution to the battle between the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation and the state: eliminate the foundation and give its money to a state agency.

The Toledo Blade reported April 30 that Rep. Jay Hottinger (R-Newark) has introduced legislation to shutter the independent foundation -- created by state lawmakers and funded with proceeds from the 1998 nationwide tobacco settlement -- and shift its functions to the state Department of Health.

"Anything that government has the ability to establish, it has the ability to abolish," said Hottinger. "In a perfect world, this wouldn't be necessary, but we have to make choices."

The foundation has been battling with the state ever since Gov. Ted Strickland announced that he would take the bulk of the foundation's funding -- earmarked for youth tobacco prevention -- and use it for a economic-development program. The foundation responded by attempting to donate the money to a series of tobacco-prevention organizations, but that move was blocked by Strickland.

The state and the foundation are now fighting in court over the money. A judge has issued a temporary restraining order barring anyone from spending the money.

Sen. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) said that closing down the foundation is the only way for lawmakers to constrain a "rogue agency." Seitz, a smoker, sponsored the Senate bill to eliminate the foundation and also opposes Ohio's statewide indoor-smoking ban.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Sandy Hinkle on 05 May 08 11:18 AM EDT
Here is the problem that will constantly plague society..we would much rather spend several times the amount to treat something than to support efforts to prevent the problem. Bailing people out of the water after they are drowning is not the answer. The reality is you have to stop them from jumping in the water. Tobacco, alcohol and other drug prevention in this country is a joke, it has never nor will it ever get the dollars and legislative support it needs to be effective. The goverment primes the well then decides ten or so years later that they will move the money somewhere else. We in the field of prevention fight an ongoing battle first and foremost the behaviors we are trying to prevent and secondly public ignorance. This is why we rarely see the outcomes we need to become a more productive society.

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