The problem with raiding Tobacco Free Florida funds for cancer research

Last week, the Finance and Taxation Committee of the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) moved forward a proposal by state Rep. Jeanette Nuñez to reallocate a portion of funding for Tobacco Free Florida to cancer research. Although directing money to cancer research is laudable, our legislators have a long track-record of raiding one program to fund another and then eliminate appropriated money, such that the net change is zero (and sometimes less).

The money that funds Tobacco Free Florida has proven to be money well spent. Independent evaluations have shown that appropriated funds have been used effectively and efficiently. Florida is the third most populous state and continues to grow daily. Yet due to the investment we have made to educate Floridians about the dangers of tobacco, our youth smoking rate is well below the national average. The program also provides free help for Floridians trying to quit. The result? This program saves lives.

The program also saves money — to the tune of billions of dollars a year that would otherwise have to pay for the health care costs relating to smoking. While cancer research is important, it’s critical to stop cancer before it starts. An American Cancer Society report released earlier this month noted a historic reduction in cancer death rates, attributed largely to reductions in smoking. Considering nearly 30 percent of cancer deaths in Florida are linked directly to smoking, this proposal is shortsighted and counterproductive.

It’s also dishonest. The sad irony here is we have the Article X, Section 27 of the state constitution because our citizens were upset that our legislators weren’t using tobacco settlement money for tobacco education and prevention programs. The fact is this program is already underfunded, receiving about one-third of the funding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends. It is straining against the growing state population, a tobacco company marketing budget that is eight times larger, and emerging tobacco products that threaten to undo the progress made.

Any cut to the funding of this program will cause exponential damage to the program’s ability to deliver on its promise to the people of Florida. Nuñez knows this. Our politicians know this. The tobacco industry certainly knows this. They also need to know that the public won’t stand for a frontal assault on this campaign, particularly since we fought so hard for this amendment just 10 years ago.

This proposal is a cancer and should be removed from consideration immediately.

Maureen Mann is treasurer of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network national board. Mann is also executive director of Lynn Cancer Institute and Lynn Women’s Health and Wellness Institute in Boca Raton.