Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Group seeks measure on tobacco money

Group seeks measure on tobacco money

TOM STROMME/Tribune Heidi Heitkamp uses a graph to make a point about the use of North Dakota's tobacco settlement dollars before presenting a initiative petition to Secretary of State Al Jaeger on Tuesday afternoon in the state capitol.

Apr 16, 2008 - 06:58:08 CDT

By DAVE KOLPACK/Associated Press Writer

FARGO - Former North Dakota attorney general Heidi Heitkamp is leading a campaign to devote more money from a decade-old settlement with tobacco companies to programs that discourage smoking.

Heitkamp, who helped negotiate the 1998 settlement with 46 states and the nation's largest tobacco companies, wants to take the issue to state voters in November.

It would establish a new fund managed by a nine-member advisory board appointed by the governor. The board would be in charge of developing a comprehensive plan to discourage tobacco use.

Heitkamp took the proposed initiated measure to Secretary of State Al Jaeger's office Tuesday.

Once Jaeger approves the measure, its supporters may begin gathering signatures from North Dakota voters. Heitkamp said she is confident of getting the needed minimum of 12,844 names before the Aug. 5 deadline to get a spot on the November state ballot.

The proposed fund would be financed by a share of North Dakota's tobacco lawsuit settlement payments, which are scheduled to continue through 2025.

Under present law, the tobacco money is divided among funds that benefit North Dakota's schools, water development and public health projects. The state's Common Schools Trust Fund gets 45 percent; the water fund another 45 percent and the health fund 10 percent.

North Dakota's budget office estimates the three funds will split $70 million during the state's current two-year budget period, which ends June 30, 2009.

Heitkamp said the tobacco payments are scheduled to rise for the next 10 years to include an added payment to states that helped negotiate the settlement. The proposed "tobacco prevention and control" fund would receive its money from that added share, she said.

If the new fund does not have enough money for a tobacco control program, the water projects fund will provide the needed share, Heitkamp said.

She said that would not hamper the development of water projects because North Dakota's increased oil production also provides more tax revenue for water development.

"This is something that saves lives," Heitkamp said of tobacco prevention. "I kind of facetiously say, 'How many people died because you didn't have a water project?"'

Rep. Rick Berg, R-Fargo, the House Republican majority leader, said the proposed new fund may duplicate anti-tobacco programs already in place.

"I think programs should not be viewed by how much money you put into them, but by the results you get out of them," Berg said. "From my perspective, that's the benefit of having the Legislature look at a program every year to ensure that citizens are getting money's worth, rather than having a mandated program."

Heitkamp said North Dakota has spent an average of $2.2 million a year on tobacco control. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended the state spend at least $9 million a year, she said. Only three states are meeting the CDC recommendations, she said.

"We want $9 million. That's a small amount of money to prevent people from dying," Heitkamp said.

Dan Canton, a spokesman for Gov. John Hoeven, had no comment about the proposed measure.

"Until we read through it and understand it, there's not much we can say," Canton said.

News > State

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Comments

Matt wrote on Apr 16, 2008 11:09 PM:

" I thought all this was settled. More money to fund programs to discourage smoking? Don't know what for. Smoking is practically banned everywhere already. What's dirtier than smoking is the conivence between government and the tobacco industry in this so called "tobacco settlement". "

nodakman wrote on Apr 16, 2008 9:41 PM:

" King Rick Berg says leave it up to the Legislature after all they are so much smater than anyone else, and Hoeven doesn't comment until he can commission a poll to see where the majority thinks he should go. in the abscence of real leadership it is good to see someone is stepping up to the plate. Good Job Heidi "

Edward wrote on Apr 16, 2008 3:38 PM:

" One of the greatest user taxes. "

Water? wrote on Apr 16, 2008 3:32 PM:

" Someone help me understand: The water fund receives 45%. What is the water fund? I'm trying to make the connection on how this fits with this settlement. Anyone know? "

About Time! wrote on Apr 16, 2008 1:35 PM:

" It's about time some common sense was used to determine the best use for this additional tobacco settlement money coming into the state. Thanks, Heidi, for reminding us it was a TOBACCO settlement, after all. "

RON wrote on Apr 16, 2008 1:16 PM:

" The tobacco settlement was to compensate the states for the increased health costs both for the state and the individual smokers not as a windfall for other state projects. Hopefully some of the settlement will be used for its intended pourpose The future health of ND citizens. "

Leaf wrote on Apr 16, 2008 12:25 PM:

" Posturing for the 2012 election already? "

Ali wrote on Apr 16, 2008 9:51 AM:

" A gateway drug?

To what, cigars? "

to Go Figure wrote on Apr 16, 2008 8:57 AM:

" Anyone who started smoking when they knew the risks associated with smoking should have nothing paid for. Everyone needs to take responsibility for their actions, they knew tobacco smoking could cause diseases yet CHOSE to smoke anyway. The tobacco settlement money should sit in the bank to earn money to replace the tobacco taxes once the dumb people wise up and quit smoking. "

Jim wrote on Apr 16, 2008 8:32 AM:

" The money from the lawsuit was intended to repay state governments for the added costs that they already paid. This is money that was taken from other parts of the budget.

Dorgan, Conrad and Pomeroy were all in agreement of the original formula for distribution of the funds...I wonder what they think about Heidi now changing that...I guess that since Dorgan discovered oil in North Dakota last week the state can now afford to pay for everything. "

NDr wrote on Apr 16, 2008 8:23 AM:

" When is this country going to get back to PERSONAL CHOICE? Every single American knows smoking is bad for you. Yet some choose to do so. That's their choice. If you hate smoking, don't smoke. But it's time people start minding their own busines. Everytime some "cause" person jumps on their high horse we as Americans lose more of our personal freedoms. So, I for one think it's time people start minding their own business!!! btw.... I've never smoked a cigarette in my life. Not even one. That's my choice. But if you want, go ahead. That's your choice!!! "

MamaMia wrote on Apr 16, 2008 8:16 AM:

" This has been needed for a long time. Thanks, Heidi, for taking the proverbial bull by the horns. "

Dale A. Swenson wrote on Apr 16, 2008 6:10 AM:

" We know tobacco is highly addictive. We know tobacco is a gateway drug, whose power needs to be restricted. We know a strong correlation exists among those who commit suicide. Many are found to be consumers of tobacco at a rate of more than a pack a day.
Tobacco leaves a chain of evidence in the breakdown of the brain.
Water development, schools, even roads pale in the face of the facts about tobacco and its destructive impact on young lives and old. Put the money to work where it is intended!! Dale "

go figure wrote on Apr 16, 2008 5:07 AM:

" The lawsuit money should be used to help smokers quit smoking and help pay for medical costs that were directly related to being a smoker. The tobacco companies were being punished for hiding the fact of their products being "ADDICTING". Those who were deceived by tobacco companies have not received much of that settlement. Why shouldn't those people who have medical costs directly related to their smoking addiction not get those bills paid for by the companies who caused the problems in the first place. ND choses to spend it where they please but not where it logically was meant to go. "

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