The Mississippi House approved Thursday giving $20 million to the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, a smoking cessation program.
House Bill 1115 directs $20 million of tobacco settlement funds to the Partnership.
For the past five years, an order by a Gulf Coast chancery judge has directed money to the Partnership.
Gov. Haley Barbour, state Treasurer Tate Reeves and others filed a lawsuit last year challenging how the Partnership is funded. The governor has said the Legislature should determine how much money the group receives.
Former Attorney General Mike Moore, who founded the organization and serves as its chairman, then asked lawmakers to pass a bill funding the program.
Several Republicans opposed the measure, but not enough to stop the vote.
Rep. Greg Snowden, R-Meridian, said a private group should not receive public funds.
Democrats spoke in favor of the Partnership for its work in cutting smoking in Mississippi.
“It has worked for seven years,” House Public Health & Human Services Committee Chairman Steve Holland said. “It is the model smoking cessation program in the United States of America.”
House passes bill funding anti-smoking group
Orignally written By: Laura Hipp
Orignally written By: Laura Hipp
