Oregon gets an F on anti-tobacco spending

The Salem Statesman Journal's Tara McLain reports on this disturbing development.

Oregon has earned a failing grade from the American Lung Association for its limited spending on tobacco prevention and education.

Once ranked fourth in the nation for tobacco-control spending, Oregon now sits in 38th place after significant cuts in the past two years.

Advocates fear that prevention programs may fall further behind in 2005 as the Oregon Legislature creates a new two-year budget. Gov. Ted Kulongoski again has proposed shifting $10 million designated for tobacco-use prevention to the Oregon Health Plan.

Legislators used more than half of the prevention money in 2003 to lace up holes in the health budget. Tobacco-prevention offices across the state were closed, and cessation and education programs were canceled.

I certainly believe it is more important for Oregon's money to go to overall health spending than anti-tobacco spending, if that choice has to be made. Clearly, though, it would be preferrable if there were enough money in the system not to have to make that choice. Perhaps it's high time to say no to the anti-tax activists and begin to raise revenue, in Oregon and across the nation...