Federal Tobacco Program Under Fire: Did the CDC use stimulus funds for restrictive tobacco laws?

CSPNews | March 4, 2013 | By MELISSA VONDER HAAR, MITCH MORRISON

[Eric Blair 2084]

ATLANTA -- Stimulus.

The mere mention opens up a debate about whether federal funds were necessary to ensure our nation's economic recovery. But are these funds having a direct effect on retailers' tobacco business on a local level?

Perhaps. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allotted $650 million to carry out clinical and community-based prevention and wellness strategies. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services enlisted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to allocate these funds through an initiative known as the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW).

"Communities Putting Prevention to Work was a two-year funding project that began in 2010 to address obesity and tobacco," says Karen Hunter, CDC senior press officer.

The National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) reports that the CDC granted $142.8 million in tobacco-related grants to 19 cities and counties in 2010 alone. The CPPW evolved into the Community Transformation Grant (CTG)--a piece of President Obama's health-care legislation, the Affordable Care Act. Between CPPW and CTG, NATO estimates these dollars will fund an additional $315 million to $450 million in tobacco-related grants from 2011 to 2015.

Put another way, these funds are incenting communities across the country to adopt further restrictions on the sale and merchandising of tobacco products.

"The grant funds have been used to propose a variety of different local ordinance restrictions," says NATO's executive director, Thomas Briant, "including graphic health warning posters at registers, cigar package size restrictions, restrictions on coupon redemption and a ban on the sale of certain flavored tobacco products."

From a health perspective, one might approve the federal government's incentive program as a vehicle for reducing health-care costs. There's one problem, though: The use of federal funds to enact tobacco regulations is against federal law.

[Eric Blair 2084]

The reason why this is important goes beyond smoking. I can respect that people think the smell of burning leaves is stinky and smelly. I can understand why you want your 76 year old grandpa to quit.

This is about abuse of power and illegal lobbying.

I also realize that this piece was in a convenience store newspaper. They have skin in the game.

But it's as well written as anything in the NY Times or WaPo.

I didn't believe the Obama Romney In trade odds either, turned out that they were right.):-

[Eric Blair 2084]

There is a reason that 4 of the richest counties in America are around DC PING!

Who needs to work for a living when you can lobby lawmakers to whack your competition?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[elkfersupper]

People talk about the Great Depression.

At least people could both drink and smoke indoors during that one.

Now, we're lucky if we can do both in our own homes.

[Eric Blair 2084]

I was born 30 years too late.:-)

My uncles had a great time. I had a good time while freedom lasted.

Today’s kids get wheat pizza with low fat cheese and celery for school lunch.

No wonder some of them inhale aerosol cans and play video games all day.