Elected officials must spend tobacco settlement funds on tobacco use prevention to restore public trust, Coalition says 
 
The Missouri Partnership on Smoking or Health calls on the leadership of our state to do the right thing and dedicate Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) funds to help people quit smoking and keep kids from starting.  "Missouri deserves the failing grades issued by the American Lung Association," commented Deborah Boldt, Director of the Missouri Partnership on Smoking or Health (MPSH), a statewide tobacco prevention coalition based in Jefferson City. 
 
 "It is an outrage that Missouri has received over $510 million dollars from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement but not one penny has been used for its intended purpose, tobacco prevention and control."
 
 Boldt was referring to the first annual American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control Report released nationally on Jan. 7, 2003.  While many states received failing grades for tobacco prevention, Missouri received three "F's" for tobacco program funding, tobacco taxes, and smokefree air and a "C" for laws limiting youth access to tobacco. 
 
 More than 10,000 Missourians die of smoking-related illness annually, and 16,000 Missouri youth become new smokers.  It is the single most preventable cause of death and disease in Missouri and this nation.
 
 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the minimum amount needed to provide comprehensive tobacco use prevention in Missouri is $33 million annually. "When it comes to tobacco prevention, you have to spend money to save money," commented Jim Blaine, M.D., a tobacco prevention advocate from Springfield.
 
 "The CDC's Best Practices on Tobacco Prevention has significantly decreased tobacco use in states that have chosen to fund the program. Smoking costs this state 4.1 billion dollars annually in health care and disability costs.  It is the responsibility of our state lawmakers to protect the health and fiscal resources of all Missourians. It would be deplorable not to use any of the Master Settlement Agreement funds for tobacco prevention."
 
  In November 2002 exit polls, voters cited distrust of government as a major reason they voted against Proposition A, a proposal to raise the tobacco tax by 55˘.  They referred to the misuse of gambling money that was to be used for education, sales tax dollars proposed for highway use, and MSA funds for tobacco prevention, as reasons for voting against Proposition A.
 
 "Currently the people of Missouri do not trust state leaders to protect their health or to spend tax dollars as promised," said Boldt.  "During this legislative session, lawmakers have an excellent opportunity to prove they are dedicated to the proper use of MSA funds.  The Missouri Partnership challenges the 2003 General Assembly and the governor to have the wisdom, courage, and character to spend MSA funds on tobacco prevention."
 
 The Missouri Partnership on Smoking or Health is a coalition of organizations throughout the state, advocating for better health for all Missourians through improved public policy on tobacco.