Wisconsin
Committee Allocates $31 Million For Tobacco Control
Wisconsin's Joint Finance Committee agreed on Tuesday to spend
$30.9 million annually on tobacco control programs.
The committee voted 10-6, with two Republicans joining eight
Democrats, to replace Gov. Tommy Thompson's plan to spend $5.2
million on cancer research and smoking prevention.
The plan
will be part of the state budget making its way through the
Finance Committee. Once approved by this committee, the budget
is rarely changed by the Senate or Assembly.
"These legislators
are literally saving lives," said Carrie Sullivan, spokesperson
for a coalition of 100 organizations.
Source(s):
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, (5/19/99) "Lawmakers put $31 million toward anti-smoking programs," Richard P.
Jones of the Journal Sentinel staff. [Full Text: here]