Anti-Smoking Group Gives Missouri Bad Grade On Prevention Efforts

Missouri gets a low grade on spending money to keep people from smoking. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids says Missouri is last in spending for progams to keep people from smoking. In fact, says the organization, Missouri is the only state to cut all funding for smoking prevention in this year’s budget. Voters will be asked to approve a 55-cent-a-pack tax increase on cigarettes in November. State budget leaders say the tax will pump $20-Million into smoking prevention programs.