ANNOUNCEMENT
April 1, 2000
Connecticut's Tobacco
Settlement Money
Peg Perillie, Health & Welfare
Commissioner,
and CTPTA Representative to the MATCH Coalition
Under the master settlement agreement negotiated by the Attorneys General
with the Tobacco Industry, Connecticut received approximately $140 million for
their first year's payment and in this coming fiscal year will soon receive the
second annual payment of $111 million. These annual payments are to continue for
the next 20 to 25 years but the amount will decrease each year.
During the 1999 Legislative Session, the allocation for TOBACCO CONTROL
PROGRAMS was raised from $500.000 to $5 million (2%). This funding was a result
of efforts put forth by MATCH and its member organizations. $20 million was
allocated to a trust fund which cannot be used to fund programming until it
matures in twenty years!
As smoking rates decline across the nation, the annual payment to each state
will go down. California, Florida and Massachusetts have implemented very
successful anti-tobacco programs -- thanks to appropriate allocations from their
Legislatures. We must seize the opportunity to address Connecticut's problem NOW
while the funds are available. $$'s will not last forever.
In the Governor's budget to be voted upon in this session of the General
Assembly, there is another payment of $20 million to the trust fund. AS IT
STANDS NOW, NO ALLOCATION TO FUND A COMPREHENSIVE TOBACCO CONTROL PROGRAM IS
INCLUDED.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends funding of $21 million
(low end) to $54 million (high end) for Connecticut - based on their guidelines,
which recommend that moneys come down to the individual towns to cover community
programs to reduce tobacco use and to reduce the burden of tobacco-related
diseases, school programs, enforcement, partnership grants, strategic use of
media (counter-advertising), cessation programs, and surveillance and
evaluation.
Connecticut PTA is a member of the MATCH Coalition, a statewide group of over
100 organizations. MATCH is requesting that 20 million (15%) be allocated in
this session for a comprehensive tobacco control program.
PLEASE URGE YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND STATE SENATOR TO ALLOCATE $20
MILLION FOR A COMPREHENSIVE TOBACCO CONTROL PROGRAM IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET!
CALL NOW, AS THIS SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENDS THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY!
