Nonprofit organizations oppose raiding tobacco funds

Many Hawaii nonprofits are opposing HB 2887, a bill that would temporarily take funds from tobacco prevention and quit-smoking programs and move them to the state general fund.

Those opposing the bill include: the state Department of Health, the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Family Forum. Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, the American Heart Association, Papa Ola Lokahi, the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii, the Hawaii Community Foundation, the American Lung Association, Maui Youth and Family Services, Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, Hale Opio Kauai, Nursing Advocates & Mentors, The Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness Research and Training, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, the Hawaii Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Coalition, the American Cancer Society, the Tobacco Education & Assistance Program, Parents and Children Together, NPAC-Get Fit Kauai, and the Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park,

The University of Hawaii testified in support of the bill because it would allow the John A. Burns School of Medicine to continue to use tobacco settlement funds, paid by tobacco companies to Hawaii to compensate taxpayers for smoking-caused health care costs. Part of that settlement was dedicated to programs that keep children from beginning to smoke and help those who already smoke, quit.

The bill has moved through the House Finance Committee. After hearing the measure on Feb. 17, the committee recommended passage with amendments despite the results of a survey of Hawaii residents released on Feb. 15 that showed nine out of 10 think the Tobacco Settlement should fund tobacco prevention and quit-smoking programs.

The study found that 92 percent of respondents consider it important to continue using the funds for anti-smoking programs. Three out of four respondents said they support keeping the funds at their current level. Fewer than 20 percent supported cutting tobacco-prevention funds to help balance the budget, the study found. The survey had 500 participants from Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island, was commissioned by the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii and conducted by Qmark Research of Honolulu.