National Report On Use Of Tobacce Settlement Money Gives Missouri Failing Grade

Missouri gets a failing grade in a national report on the funding of tobacco prevention programs. In fact, Debra Boldt, Executive Director of the Missouri Partnership on Smoking or Health, says the report puts Missouri is at the very bottom of the list of all states and the District of Columbia. The report, from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and other health groups, had ranked Missouri 15th in the nation as recently as last year but the ranking dropped to last when Governor Bob Holden opted to take money dedicated to smoking prevention programs and use it for balancing the budget.