TOBACCO SETTLEMENT: California Receives First Installment
California received a total of $315 million in the first installment of the multi-state tobacco settlement last week. Half of the funds will go to the state and the remainder will be split among the 58 counties and four city governments that brought suit against the cigarette manufacturers. Gov. Gray Davis (D) said, "The receipt of these funds represents a victory in California's long battle against tobacco. The infusion of tobacco money will go a long way toward helping California continue vital programs aimed at reducing tobacco use and improving the health of our population." Davis' 1999-2000 budget included $82.8 million for health education and anti-tobacco advertising and education efforts; $32.7 million for research related to the prevention, causes and treatment of tobacco-related diseases; and $253.7 million for medical services, preventive health care and smoking prevention and cessation treatment. With part of the multi-state tobacco settlement, the Davis administration replaced 366 tobacco billboard advertisements with anti-tobacco messages (Davis release, 12/17).
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