Barbour stops at nothing to protect Big Tobacco

Tomorrow, legislators return to Jackson to try once again to fill the $90 million hole in Medicaid.

Governor Barbour wants to tax hospitals to fill the gap, and while hospitals have agreed to pay such a tax, they would rather tobacco be taxed.

By threatening cuts the governor has attempted to force hospital administrators and employees to agree with his position. In fact, when questioned about their stated support for the governor's plan, representatives of the Mississippi Hospital Association testified to a House committee that they preferred the cigarette tax but were told by the governor that the hospital tax was the only option available. (Speaker of the House, Billy McCoy, to the Clarion Ledger.)

The tax will inevitably be passed on to the patients and insurance companies (because premiums aren't already high enough).

The House wants to levy a cigarette tax, not a big surprise since they were pushing this during the regular session as well.

According to numerous studies and sources, including the Partnership For a Healthy Mississippi:

Tobacco-related illnesses claims the lives of 4,700 Mississippians every year.

Tobacco use by pregnant women is a leading cause of low birth-weight infants.

Cigarette smoking doubles the likelihood of a stroke.

Teens who smoke are 3-times more likely as nonsmokers to use alcohol, 8-times more likely to use marijuana, and 22-times more likely to use cocaine.

Cigarette smokers are 2 - 4-times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than nonsmokers.

Exposure to secondhand smoke has been shown to hamper cognitive development
in children.

Tobacco's Impact to Mississippi Taxpayers
Treatment of tobacco-related illness costs the Mississippi Healthcare System $719 million each year.

Treatment of tobacco-related illness costs the state's taxpayer-supported Medicaid program $264 million each year.

For every individual Mississippian who pays taxes, $534 of your money goes to Medicaid pay to treat tobacco related illness in the state.

Tobacco use is linked to $1.41 billion in lost worker productivity annually in the state.

Amazingly, Barbour has turned this in to a Democrat vs. Republican issue. In order to protect tobacco, Barbour has pegged the Partnership as this liberal entity, dedicated to destroying our conservative values.

Obviously, if you want to improve the quality of your life and other Mississippians, and if you want to cut spending in Mississippi, you're a crazy left-wing liberal, or you support the Partnership.

Reason #2 Not to Vote for Jeff Smith

Reason #2: Healthcare

We all thought Barbour was pretty rough on Mississippians when it comes to providing healthcare to the poor, elderly, disabled and the children of Mississippi, but Jeff Smith might just beat him. In 2007, for instance, he voted against funding the state's seven mental health crisis facilities (HB 245) and against the Burn Center at UMC (SB 2004).

In 2006, he voted against the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi smoking prevention program, and then in 2005 voted against reinstating PLAD Medicaid coverage and for providing medicine for the working poor and their families through Medicaid.

Mississippi is dead last in the United States in healthcare this year. Jeff Smith does not want to change that.

Just another reason we need Billy McCoy as Speaker.

Tied for 3rd; Addicted To Low Cost Cigarettes

Clarion Ledger:

As Mississippi politicians argue over whether to increase the cigarette tax, a new federal report shows the state is tied for the third-highest rate of adults who smoked in 2006.

A survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that in Mississippi and Oklahoma, 25.1 percent of adults ages 18-35 said they were smokers.

The figures, based on a random sample of 6,000 people, were published in Friday's edition of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

This is really sad when you think about how we had what was considered one of the best anti-smoking programs in the nation; a program that was killed by Haley Barbour.

In 2006, Gov. Haley Barbour vetoed two bills that would've increased the cigarette tax and decreased the grocery tax. Mississippi has the nation's highest state sales tax on groceries, 7 percent.

Eaves:

"Cigarettes are cheap, and our children are getting hooked on them because the taxes are too low," Eaves said in Biloxi.

The CDC report showed smoking among adults was highest in Kentucky, 28.6 percent, and lowest in Utah, 9.8 percent. Utah had the highest rate of adults who have quit smoking, at 47.9 percent.

"Effective, comprehensive tobacco-use prevention and control programs should be continued and expanded to further reduce smoking initiation by young persons and to encourage cessation as early in life as possible," the CDC report said.

So we need something like say The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi?

We need a governor who understands the needs of Mississippians and who won't stand in the way of progress.

With Barbour Stuck in the Past Eaves Moves Forward on Healthcare

The Clarion Ledger:

Eaves provided details of his plan, Kid Care, to The Clarion-Ledger last week. Modeled after an Illinois program, it seeks to offer affordable coverage for children whose families earn too much to qualify for state and federal help but not enough to afford private insurance.

It is the most detailed policy proposal to come from either Eaves or Republican Gov. Haley Barbour this election season. They face off in the Nov. 6 general election.

Barbour appears to be running a campaign based on perceived inevitability. He takes the postion that of course the folks will support him and has staked out no new positions for a new term nor has he made any promises.

Most advocacy groups unfamiliar with Eaves' health care plan held off on predicting whether it would work, while others questioned its feasibility. But they and political watchers gave Eaves high marks for raising the issue.

"A candidate addressing a real, identified health need in Mississippi is rare," said Roy Mitchell, director of the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program.

Eaves has a rare passion for helping people and believes that what has often been an empty campaign slogan "Mississippi Can Do Better."

Eaves' plan mirrors "All Kids," a program Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich successfully pushed through that state's Democratic-controlled Legislature in less than a year.

Launched in 2006, the program builds on Illinois' Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program but is funded solely by the state. Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Washington have created similar programs based on Illinois' plan.

Like that plan, Eaves' proposal allows families to purchase coverage on a sliding income basis. A family of four that earns $50,000 a year would pay a monthly premium of $40 per child and a maximum annual co-pay of $100. A single parent earning $34,000 also would fall into that category. For two or more children, the maximum monthly premium would be $80.

We don't have to be last this time. We can lead with Pennsylvania and Washington state to insure all our children. John Eaves can take us there. Haley Barbour who has a clear history of dismantling public health programs simply won't.

Barbour Gets the ThinkProgress Treatment

After noting that Giuliani said that Haley Barbour would be on everyone's list for VP, Think Progress goes into detail on why he might not be the best choice for any ticket offering up these "lowlights":

Family members and lobbyists profited from Katrina tragedy: “Among the beneficiaries are Barbour’s own family and friends, who have earned hundreds of thousands of dollars from hurricane-related business. A nephew, one of two who are lobbyists, saw his fees more than double in the year after his uncle appointed him to a special reconstruction panel.”

Owned controlling interest in 2002 New Hampshire phone jamming company: For nearly two hours on election day 2002, subcontractors for the telemarketing firm GOP Marketplace tied-up Democratic and union phone banks with repeated hang up calls. Multiple GOP officials eventually either pled guilty to or were convicted of criminally violating federal communications law. Barbour’s investment group, Helm Partners, was not only a major investor in GOP Marketplace, but it also held a controlling interest in the firm.

As a lobbyist, he represented firm indicted in Tom DeLay’s money laundering scandal: As a lobbyist for Barbour Griffith & Rogers, Barbour represented The Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care Inc., “a corporate coalition of 14 of the country’s largest for-profit nursing home companies.” The Alliance wrote a check for $100,000 “ended up illegally funding Republican candidates for the Texas statehouse” in 2002. The check was eventually used as evidence in the case that led to indictments for money laundering against former Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX).

A former tobacco lobbyist, he killed Mississippi’s successful anti-smoking program: From 1998 to 2002, Barbour’s lobbying firm “was paid a total of $3.8 million by the tobacco companies.” As governor of Mississippi, he led an effort to defund and ultimately kill the state’s anti-smoking program, considered to be “the nation’s most successful anti-smoking programs.”

Directed large amounts of reconstruction funds to wealthy homeowners: Barbour and Mississippi’s two Republican Senators steered an “unprecedented” $23.5 billion in federal reconstruction aid, but by waiving a HUD requirement that “70 percent of the funds are supposed to be allocated to low- and moderate-income people.” Barbour “badly skewed” the funds towards “wealthy homeowners,” with only 25 percent reaching “the poorer segments of the population.”

Most of the quotes are hyperlinked on their site to supporting documents or articles and you can check that out at ThinkProgress.org

"Healing Moments" from Marshall Ramsey

I hope he doesn't mind if I print the post in its entirety:

The mediator welcomes two angry men into a room. Both men look as uncomfortable as little boys in church, with frowns and distrustful looks on their faces. The mediator, a familiar face, waves both of them over to a big comfy couch. "Welcome to GOP mediation class, I'm Haley and I am your counselor. Please sit down, make yourselves comfortable and tell me your names."

"My name is Charlie Ross. I am sitting across from a Mike Moore-loving dork."

The mediator interrupts," Senator Ross, now that wasn't very kind. We must use more loving language." The mediator looks over at the other man and says, "Now, sir, it's your turn."

"My name is Phil Bryant. Why did you help that mudslinging jerk behind the scenes? Doesn't that make you a suspect mediator?!? And while I was out there publicly kissing your behind no less!!!"

"Now, there is no proof that I helped Sen. Ross, Mr. Bryant. You're just sore that he chewed on you like a hormonal pit bull."

Charlie Ross interjects, "Why don't you go crying to your friends at the Partnership? Dork! I should be his wingman, not you. Liberal lover."

The mediator interrupts once again, "Sen Ross. Wait your turn. Now, I want us to all stand in a circle and hold hands."

"@#$@ you."

"Gentlemen, there is no room for such hostility. We have to bond. To come together. We now have a common enemy."

The three men hold hands and start humming. "Hmmm Jamie Franks is evil. Hmmmm Jamie Franks is evil."

"Now," the mediator gushed, "Don't you feel better?"

Both men hug.

"I'm sorry Charlie."

"I'm sorry Phil."

They join their mediator and head out to a unity press conference.

Marshall Ramsey's Blog

New Anti-Ross Ad?

In what could be the first attack ad of the primaries, Cotton Mouth has a report from someone who thinks they saw an ad attacking Ross on TV today.

If you have seen the ad or know its source please e-mail me or put your info in the comments.

I've only had one report so that person could be mistaken, but let me know.

Update: It is an Anti-Bryant ad by the Ross campaign. The following is from the Ross press release:

The race for the Republican Lieutenant Governor's nomination has revolved around a choice of which candidate is the most reliable in tough fights. A new television ad released by the Ross campaign Tuesday gives voters proof of one important difference on that score -- the two candidates' record of support for Governor Barbour.

In one of the Governor's hardest-fought battles to date, Charlie Ross stood with the Governor in his successful effort to stop the illegal diversion of tax money to the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi. Bryant, meanwhile, stood with Barbour's opponent, Democrat Mike Moore, on the Partnership issue.

They also offer this timeline at their website on Phil Bryant and the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi:
http://charlieross.com/media/partnership_timeline.pdf

Sid Salter Forgets Recent History

Clarion Ledger columnist Sid Salter keeps writing things like this:

"Regardless, the impact is the same. Mississippi's future smoking cessation education effort is out of the hands of the Partnership and in the hands of the Legislature." - July 1, 2007 Clarion Ledger

"...unconstitutional and illegal diversion of $20 million a year to the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi." - June 20, 2007 Hattiesburg American

"The late Gov. Kirk Fordice started the battle against the dubious funding mechanism for the Partnership and Gov. Haley Barbour and State Treasurer Tate Reeves finished the fight." - June 18, 2007 Sid Salter's blog

He constantly leaves the impression that Reeves and Barbour were only concerned about how The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi was getting its money.

That was clearly not the case.

The legislature voted to provide funding and oversight to the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi and with all concerns over proper spending authority and oversight out of the way Barbour vetoed the funding.

Barbour didn't care about spending authority of oversight or he would have pushed for the same oversight into contracts his Republican buddies in industry and the legislature got after Hurricane Katrina.

He opposed spending for the Partnership due to a petty dislike for Mike Moore and his ideology on government that says there is no place for public spending to deter harmful behavior, even when it comes to our state's children.

Haley Barbour is dangerously out of step with the people of this state and to write this story as an issue of legality of funding without proper context to the broader reasons is irresponsible.

Tobacco-Free Kids Find No Ally In Barbour

Mississippi Supreme Court Ruling Puts Obligation on Legislature, Governor To Continue Funding Tobacco Prevention

Statement of Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

It is deeply disappointing that Governor Haley Barbour’s single-minded campaign to destroy Mississippi’s highly successful tobacco prevention program has resulted in a state Supreme Court ruling denying continued funding for the program without legislative action. Governor Barbour, a former tobacco lobbyist, bears responsibility for destroying one of the nation’s most successful tobacco prevention programs.

If Governor Barbour’s real concern was legislative authority over tobacco settlement funds, as he claims, he would not have vetoed legislation approved last year to provide legislative authorization and oversight for the state’s tobacco prevention programs or vigorously opposed similar legislation this year. With the Legislature having completed its work for the year, the state Supreme Court ruling means that a program that was making an enormous difference will no longer be funded. Governor Barbour’s actions have benefited the tobacco companies he used to represent at the expense of Mississippi’s kids, health and taxpayers.

Unless the Legislature and Governor act, this decision means that Mississippi is no longer keeping the promise it made to the state’s children to dedicate a significant portion of tobacco settlement proceeds to fund programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit. We urge the Mississippi Legislature at its earliest opportunity to enact legislation providing $20 million in annual funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs and to override Governor Barbour’s veto if necessary. Unless funding for these programs is reinstated, Mississippi will pay a high price with more kids smoking, more lives lost to tobacco and higher health care costs paid by taxpayers.

By dedicating $20 million in tobacco settlement funds for tobacco prevention programs, Mississippi had become a national leader in protecting kids from tobacco. The state’s programs reduced smoking by 48 percent among public middle school students (from 23 percent in 1999 to 12 percent in 2004) and by 32 percent among public high school students (from 32.5 percent in 1999 to 22.1 percent in 2004). Unless funding is quickly restored for the state’s tobacco prevention programs, these dramatic health gains will quickly come to a halt and begin to reverse.

Mississippi must continue its aggressive and well-funded tobacco prevention programs because thousands of lives and millions of dollars are at stake. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the state, claiming more than 4,700 lives and costing the state $719 million annually in health care bills, including $264 million in Medicaid payments alone. Government expenditures related to tobacco amount to a hidden tax of $561 each year on every Mississippi household. Unless the Legislature and Governor quickly restore funding for tobacco prevention, tobacco’s terrible toll will continue to mount.

(The bolding and coloring of letters has been added for emphasis)

- Cotton Mouth

Eaves Takes On Barbour Over Partnership (WLBT)

"We can expand the Partnership. It will save the taxpayers money. It will save our kids a lot of misery. It will save lives."

This is from the Friday evening news on WLBT out of Jackson.

(The 4 million dollar figure is how much Barbour's firm was paid by tobacco companies, not direct campaign contributions. WLBT is in error on that point.)