Tobacco money diverted


Opinion: January 3, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

Tobacco money diverted

Marietta Times: The Ohio Supreme Court ruled last week that Ohio’s transfer of $230 million that had been set aside for tobacco prevention programs was legal. But that doesn’t mean Ohio should have done so.

The Ohio Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Fund was established in 2000 after a landmark settlement was reached between states, including Ohio, and tobacco companies sued over the effects of smoking. Ohio’s share was $10.1 billion.

Gov. Ted Strickland and state legislators agreed in 2008 to liquidate the fund and divert the money to help pay for an economic stimulus package hoped to create jobs.

The money was then redirected again to help expand state health care benefits.

Other states took steps to protect the tobacco settlement money. Ohio did not.