American Lung Association Report: Minnesota Gets Failing Grade for Tobacco Control...

American Lung Association Report: Minnesota Gets Failing Grade for Tobacco
Control Spending

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: 3:00 AM (EST), Tuesday, January 13, 2009

While Minnesota has received many millions of dollars since its 1998
settlement with tobacco companies, the state is not investing enough in
tobacco prevention and control programs, according to an annual "report card"
which will be issued Tuesday by the American Lung Association.

In the latest "State of Tobacco Control" report, Minnesota scored an "F" for
tobacco prevention and control spending, down from a "B" grade last year.
Minnesota's grades remained the same in two categories: an "A" for smokefree
air and a "C" ranking for cigarette taxes. In a new category that looks at how
Minnesota supports smoking cessation programs for state employees and those
covered by state Medicare programs, Minnesota earned a "B" grade.

"This report is a wake-up call to the legislature about the need for a strong
tobacco prevention and control program as recommended by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention," said Pat McKone, senior director, tobacco
control. "Our state cigarette tax is low and the number of kids smoking is
still too high. It's time for Minnesota to raise its tobacco taxes and
dedicate a portion of those dollars to prevention."

McKone said that studies show when the price of cigarettes goes up, youth
smoking goes down, citing two independent reports from 2007 that affirmed that
the higher tobacco taxes result in lower smoking rates.

A link to the entire report is available online at
www.stateoftobaccocontrol.org

CONTACT: Pat McKone, +1-218-393-4120, or Robert Moffitt, +1-651-269-7561, both
of American Lung Association of Minnesota

/PRNewswire-USNewswire - Jan. 12/

SOURCE American Lung Association of Minnesota