Jump to full article: Burlington (VT) Free Press, 2009-06-05
Author: John Curran The Associated Press
Intro: MONTPELIER -- Vermont lawmakers have partially reinstated funding for the state's tobacco control efforts, which had been scheduled for a $1.9 million hit in the new state budget.
Before adjourning Wednesday, the Legislature voted to restore all but $400,000 of the money, using a $1.5 million transfer from the state's tobacco trust fund.
Anti-smoking groups had feared that the larger cut would effectively extinguish many of the smoking prevention and smoking cessation programs that are financed with state money, including youth smoking prevention and hospital-based programs that offer one-on-one counseling and nicotine replacement therapy.
"It is a surprising and welcome turnaround," said Tina Zuk, coordinator of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Vermont. "We worked very hard to let legislators know the devastating impact the program and services to smokers the previous cut would have." . . .
Melissa Blasich, a tobacco cessation counselor at Mount Ascutney Hospital in Windsor, welcomed word of the funding reinstatement.
"People really depend on this program. We get calls every day from people looking for help, getting the supplies to help them quit or the support to help them quit. It's reassuring to know we'll still be able to provide this service," Blasich said.
Jump to full article » |