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HELP director asks about tobacco fund restoration

HELP director asks about tobacco fund restoration

Tim Leeds

Legislators told more needed on workers compensation reform

A local legislator told the head of a local advocacy group that a final decision on cutting money from an anti-tobacco fund is not yet made.

Krista Solomon, executive director of the HELP Committee, said a Montana House committee had eliminated funding from a lawsuit settlement. In the court case, cigarette companies agreed to pay for youth smoking prevention programs.

Montana voters overwhelmingly approved the statute to use the money for tobacco programs, Solomon said.

Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, said the future of the program is up in the air. The freshman legislator said, in her understanding, the Appropriations Committee is now in the process of cutting, then will go back to put funding back for some programs.

"They've got three or four more weeks to push and pull, and I can tell you with no certainty what the final product is going to look like before it even becomes House Bill 2 so the rest of us get to look at it, " Hansen said. "So, no, I don't know what's going on with that. "

Solomon said after the video teleconference with the legislators — held each Wednesday in Robins School Administration Building and sponsored by the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce and Havre Public Schools — that HELP is the lead in the tri-county tobacco use prevention coalition in the area.

"We're definitely in opposition to (eliminating the funding), " she said.

Kristin Page Nei of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network decried legislative action in a release issued Wednesday morning.

"Today is a sad day for the health of Montanans. The …Appropriations-Finance and Claim Joint Health and Human Services Subcommittee cut by 90 percent one of the most effective Tobacco Use Prevention Programs in the nation, " she said. "This is just one business day after the committee was presented with resounding evidence that the program is saving lives and money. "

The release says that Montana health advocates are calling on the Legislature and Gov. Brian Schweitzer to fully fund the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program and increase the state cigarette tax by $1.30 per pack, and also raise the tax on other tobacco products, in order to reduce tobacco use and raise much-needed revenue to cut the budget deficit at the same time.

In other issues, the legislators at the conference heard that more needs to be done with the Republican proposal to cut workers compensation costs.

"It doesn't go far enough, " said Havre construction company owner Brad Lotton, adding that he appreciates the work done so far.

Lotton said nothing is being done when he sends photographs of people receiving workers comp benefits working other jobs.

"We've got to get them shut off, the fraud guys, " Lotton said.

He added that his company is now being charged for compensation for an injury to a knee that originally was injured playing high school basketball.

"That keeps our rates so we don't ever get a discount, and that all slides through the table, " Lotton said.

A local legislator told the head of a local advocacy group that a final decision on cutting money from an anti-tobacco fund is not yet made.

Krista Solomon, executive director of the HELP Committee, said a Montana House committee had eliminated funding from a lawsuit settlement. In the court case, cigarette companies agreed to pay for youth smoking prevention programs.

Montana voters overwhelmingly approved the statute to use the money for tobacco programs, Solomon said.

Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, said the future of the program is up in the air. The freshman legislator said, in her understanding, the Appropriations Committee is now in the process of cutting, then will go back to put funding back for some programs.

"They've got three or four more weeks to push and pull, and I can tell you with no certainty what the final product is going to look like before it even becomes House Bill 2 so the rest of us get to look at it, " Hansen said. "So, no, I don't know what's going on with that. "

Solomon said after the video teleconference with the legislators — held each Wednesday in Robins School Administration Building and sponsored by the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce and Havre Public Schools — that HELP is the lead in the tri-county tobacco use prevention coalition in the area.

"We're definitely in opposition to (eliminating the funding), " she said.

Kristin Page Nei of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network decried legislative action in a release issued Wednesday morning.

"Today is a sad day for the health of Montanans. The …Appropriations-Finance and Claim Joint Health and Human Services Subcommittee cut by 90 percent one of the most effective Tobacco Use Prevention Programs in the nation, " she said. "This is just one business day after the committee was presented with resounding evidence that the program is saving lives and money. "

The release says that Montana health advocates are calling on the Legislature and Gov. Brian Schweitzer to fully fund the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program and increase the state cigarette tax by $1.30 per pack, and also raise the tax on other tobacco products, in order to reduce tobacco use and raise much-needed revenue to cut the budget deficit at the same time.

In other issues, the legislators at the conference heard that more needs to be done with the Republican proposal to cut workers compensation costs.

"It doesn't go far enough, " said Havre construction company owner Brad Lotton, adding that he appreciates the work done so far.

Lotton said nothing is being done when he sends photographs of people receiving workers comp benefits working other jobs.

"We've got to get them shut off, the fraud guys, " Lotton said.

He added that his company is now being charged for compensation for an injury to a knee that originally was injured playing high school basketball.

"That keeps our rates so we don't ever get a discount, and that all slides through the table, " Lotton said.

 

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