Holden moves on tobacco money

Governor Holden has signed an executive order creating the Healthy Families Trust Fund. It will hold the $4 billion in national tobacco settlement money expected to come to Missouri the next 25 years. Slightly more than $300 million sits in an escrow account, awaiting all legal issues concerning the money to be resolved. The state should receive $162 million annually thereafter. The governor wants the money to be used for prescription drug relief for the elderly, health care access and treatment, tobacco prevention, life sciences research, and early childhood education.