[Winona Online Democracy] Hello Cherisa and Others,
Cherisa, your point about using the tobacco endowment to fix the state budget problem is an important one. I don't think it's ethical of the state legislators to use that money to fix a problem they created and have other options to fix it with. (It's somewhat similiar to how the Federal Government has siphoned the Social Security funds to pay for other programs and in the process is depleting the fund.) Plus it's only a one time fix that does nothing to correct the long term fund balance problem. I also think it's foolish and short sighted to use all of the tobacco endowment for a short term problem when it could have saved millions in long run health care costs to individuals, their insurance companies, and the State of Minnesota (through rising health care premiums). This is a classic case of being penny wise and pound foolish. It's sad that more legislators and community leaders aren't speakin up about this problem. Dwayne Voegeli ================ >From: "Cherisa Templeton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Re: [Winona] Healthcare Solution? >Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 16:42:05 +0000 > >[Winona Online Democracy] > >Terry, > >Please don't feel sorry for the tobacco industry! > >The amounts those attorneys earned is nothing compared to what the tobacco >company "executives" (kingpins) have earned addicting children to a lethal >product. And then lying about it, covering it up and then making >billions...It takes guts to stand up to the tobacco cartel, in the past >they've stalked, terrorized, and blackballed attorneys and scientists who >have dared to take them on. I won't say what the present attorneys have >earned isn't excessive, but I'm not going to criticize them for it either. > >The states have received a tremendous amount of money and very little of it >was ever used for healthcare or to treat smokers. It's gone for almost >everything but healthcare- in one state it's buying equipment for tobacco >farmers! Minnesota has done one of the better jobs of using the money in >the way it was intended, about 24% of the settlement payments have been >directed towards healthcare, and 76% has gone straight into the general fund >- until now. After this session ALL of our remaining settlement money is >slated to go to the general fund to fill the black hole of the deficit. >None will be left for tobacco prevention except the few million that MPAAT >received and has left. > >Minnesota has made great leaps in a short time reducing smoking rates, we >could have done much more with this funding, which in turn would save a >tremendous amount of tax payer, money treating medicare patients for heart >disease, emphysema, lung cancer and COPD. We're blowing it by using the >money for roads and bridges. > > > >Cherisa Templeton > > > > > > > > > > > >>From: Terry Angst <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>To: online democracy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>Subject: Re: [Winona] Healthcare Solution? >>Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 14:17:11 -0500 >> >>I�m not too sharp on big business matters but it seems to me that unless >>a company earns money, it will go out of business. >> >>In insurance, I believe the concept is to spread the risk, (health, >>auto, or whatever industry) over a large number of people to minimize >>the cost to any one individual. As society continues to mandate >>increased coverage by the insurance industry, premiums increase. I don�t >>think it is unreasonable for an investor to expect to earn a profit on >>an investment. What is excessive is open to debate. >> >>I think the amount lawyers have charged for tobacco settlements in the >>individual states could make health care provider greed look miniscule. >>In Florida, Circuit Judge Harold Jeffrey Cohen �estimated the fees >>amounted to $7,716 an hour for each of the 12 private attorneys billing >>24 hours a day for the 42 months that the case went on. "Perhaps tens of >>millions or hundreds of millions of dollars might be reasonable," Cohen >>wrote, "but 2.8 billion dollars simply shocks the conscience of the >>court." >> >>It would seem that such a settlement would greatly deprive the states of >>revenue for education and the medical industry of funds to treat past >>and future smoking related costs. >> >>Perhaps we should also have National Legal. >> >>Terry Angst >> >> >>[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >> >> > Tom; >> > I couldn't agree less. >> > As a disabled individual I have in the past had access to >> > comprehensive health care coverage which enabled me to, among other >> > things, receive the transplant surgery I needed to survive. No >> > insurance company would dream of providing the coverage I needed at >> > that time. Insurance companies exist to make money for their stock >> > holders, officers, etc. They are not in business to protect and >> > provide for people's health. >> > Health care should be a right for all, not just those who can afford >> > to pay insurance companies. >> > National health care works in virtually every other civilized nation, >> > there is no reason it cannot work here. >> > Isn't it ironic that in the aftermath of Bush's destruction of Iraq, >> > the Federal Government plans on providing Iraqis comprehensive health >> > care when we have millions of people in our nation without even the >> > minimum of health care protection? >> > >> > Dean A. Lanz > > >_________________________________________________________________ >STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* >http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail > >_______________________________________________ >This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy >All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. >No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. >To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit >http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona >Any problems or suggestions can be directed to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
