Spending plan slashes smoking cessation programs; effect called 'devastating'

A state Senate committee proposes cutting funding for tobacco cessation programs to $5 million, from the current $9.3 million, said Brandee Bastin, tobacco initiative coordinator for the Hancock County Tobacco-Free Coalition.

The version of House Bill 1001 also includes the abolishment of the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation agency, putting all tobacco prevention activities into the hands of the state department of health.

“It would be devastating on our state and on our communities,” Bastin said.

The local coalition, active nine years, operates through Hancock Regional Hospital and gets funding from the state to support smoke-free community efforts like youth prevention programs and cessation programs for adults.

Bastin said the proposal could have a huge impact on efforts to curb smoking statewide, not only in the cuts to funding but also in the cut to the state agency, which just celebrated 10 years in existence.

She said other states have abolished their tobacco prevention agencies and it has proved detrimental on local efforts. What the proposal could mean to Hancock County is uncertain.

“It leaves programs like ours in question,” she said.

Cuts in funding to tobacco prevention have been common in recent years. When the ITPC started in 2001, Bastin said, the state funded $32 million. In 2005, funding was cut to $12 million; and shortly after that it was cut once again to the current $9.3 million, she said.

According to the ITPC, in the last 10 years smoking rates for high school students have dropped by 42 percent, and adult smoking rates have decreased from 27 percent to 23 percent. The Indiana Tobacco Quitline has served more 60,000 Hoosiers since its launch in 2006.

Local lawmakers see the importance of funding such programs, but also know that the state is striving to stretch dollars.

“It’s too early to say; I will see what we can do with that… but if we have extra revenues we’re trying to put it in K-12 education,” said Rep. Bob Cherry, R-Greenfield.

The cut was not made in the Indiana House of Representatives’ version of the budget bill, Cherry said. It was this week’s Senate committee version that included the reduction, and Cherry said he’ll have to learn why it was done.

There are several more steps in the budget process before cuts are made final, Cherry said, including a conference committee to settle disagreements between lawmakers.

Still, he said other state programs need funds, too.

“Schools are losing teachers; we don’t want that either, and there’s only so much money to go around,” he said.

State funding for tobacco prevention programs comes from a lawsuit Indiana was involved with against tobacco companies years ago, Cherry said. Regular revenue also streams in from the sale of cigarettes, because tobacco companies agreed to a fine.

Sen. Beverly Gard, R-Greenfield, said she’s been in favor for years of tobacco settlement money going to prevention programs.

“I think it’s sending the wrong message (when) the Senate kills the smoking ban, then cuts funding,” Gard said. “(Yet) that one thing won’t keep me from voting for a balanced budget.”

Gard said she has talked to Sen. Luke Kenley, a key lawmaker in negotiating the budget, about the issue and plans to speak with him again.

“They’re just trying to stretch the dollars as much as they can to make a balanced budget,” she said.