Group Seeks Measure on Tobacco Money

Source from:  Apr 16, 2008 - By DAVE KOLPACK/Associated Press Writer 04/17/2008

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. Enditem