Tobacco Documents Online

WISCONSIN ASSIST SUMMARY T13052-1433

WISCONSIN ASSIST SUMMARY - LOBBYING ACTIVITIES The American Stop Smoking Invention Study for cancer prevention ("ASSIST") is a federally funded, collaborative effort between the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, along with state and local health departments and other voluntary organizations, to develop and implement comprehensive tobacco control programs in seventeen states, including Wisconsin. Wisconsin Project ASSIST ("WlS ASSIST") apparently has engaged in a wide variety of direct and indirect anti- tobacco lobbying activities at the federal, state and local levels, according to documents obtained through Freedom-of-Information Act requests and other public materials. WIS ASSIST's Stated Objective Is To Support Anti-Smoking Public Policies WIS ASSIST was implemented through the Tobacco-Free Wisconsin Coalition, which was formed to apply for federal ASSIST funds. The stated objective of WlS ASSIST is to "create a permanent, self-sustaining coalition and to gradually make it into the primary tobacco control voice in the state." Attachment 1 at 2; see also Attachments 8, 9, 11. WIS ASSIST noted that ASSIST funds could be used for the: Promotion of policies and~or projects to reduce advertising and promotion of tobacco, and/or raise community awareness of tobacco advertising. Promotion of policies and~or projects to reduce youth access to tobacco, including access compliance checks, merchant education, and local ordinances. Promotion and support of local tobacco control policies~ordinances. Promotion of policies and~or projects to increase the number of tobacco-free worksites, public and private community sites and buildings. Attachment 2 at 7 (emphasis added); see also Attachment 10. T!30521434

2 WIS ASSIST acknowledged the prohibition on the use of federal funds for lobbying, but coached its members on how to lobby within the confines of the ASSIST program: There are no restrictions on ASSIST dollars with regards to lobbying local governments .... The lobbying prohibition (assuming that no state or federal funds are utilized) does not extend to activities conducted by volunteers or staff and resources funded through other sources .... A coalition as a whole and individual coalition members may lobby any level of government as they wish without restriction (except when ASSIST funds are involved or as they might be restricted by their employers if lobbying on work time). Id. at 6 (emphasis added). II. WlS ASSIST Lobbied Federal Officials On July 21, 1994, WIS ASSIST reported that it was: very active in generating support for an increase in the federal excise tax and for Cong. Waxman's clean indoor air bill. Many state and coalition members via meetings, calls and letters, encouraged Wisconsin "s Congressional delegation to do the same. Attachment 7 at 12 (emphasis added). III. WIS, ASSIST Lobbied The State Le~slature By late 1990, WIS ASSIST had convinced the Wisconsin Legislature to form a "Tobacco-Free Legislative Task Force." Attachment 3 at 70. This Task Force: will be in place throughout the duration of ASSIST Wisconsin and will be the access point to the Legislature for all tobacco prevention and control issues. ld. (emphasis added). WIS ASSIST also took steps in 1990 to "target key legislators in support of legislation to ban vending machines, outlawing tobacco possession, and increasing the tobacco excise tax." Id. at 28 (last page of attachment). Indeed, "garnering the support TI30521435

3 of key community or state leaders could result in increased financial support for existing tobacco control programs." Id. In August 1992, WIS ASSIST reported that it dealt with "a great deal. of legislative activity in attempts to raise the cigarette excise tax.., and to block passage of a Smoker's Rights bill .... " Attachment 4 at 3. State representative Peter Bock attended WIS ASSIST's meeting on November 2, 1992. He gave a presentation on "smoking control policy needs." Attachment 5 at 6. In early 1994, WIS ASSIST reported on "lessons learned" from the preceding quarter: Over all [sic], our state coalition's activities in promoting new tobacco control legislation was the greatest learning experience. It achieved only minor success in promoting new legislation (smoking was banned in daycare centers and the sale of loose cigarettes was prohibited) but the efforts to promote smoking control advocacy moved the coalition towards a new degree of self awareness .... [T]he coalition's rapid response system . . . helped to teach the following: the legislative liaisons of the large state agencies were able to work closely together for the first time with a clear division of labor; [and] they also, for the first time, made heavy use of the advocacy networks of the local coalitions around the state and found that the syste.m worked. This proved the credibility oi" the ASSIST model developed in this state and was effective in mobilizing support in key legislative districts. Attachment 6 at 6 (emphasis added). In July 1994, WIS ASSIST described the "[e]nactment of state bans on [the] sale of 'loosies' and on smoking in daycare centers" as a "key" accomplishment. Attachment 7 at 1; see also Attachment 6 at 2-3. At a local coalition meeting in mid-1994, WIS ASSIST members were "encouraged to call their representatives and support [an] increase in [the] cigarette tax." TI30521436

4 Attachment 9 at 19. The same members also "attended [a] meeting with [a] new State representative .... " Id. WIS ASSIST's Strategic Planning Commit-tee (the "Committee") charted broad goals for state legislation during fiscal year 1996. Specifically, the Committee planned to "secure the passage of... clean air initiatives pertaining to children." Attachment 2, at att. B. The Committee also hoped "to strengthen existing clean indoor air public building ordinances by adding an amendment that would create smoke-free areas at the handicapped entrances to buildings." Id. (emphasis added). IV. WIS ASSIST Lobbied Local Officials In August 1992, WIS ASSIST reported that "several state coalition members have been involved in attempts to pass a smoke-free restaurant ordinance in Madison." Attachment 4 at 3. In October 1993, WIS ASSIST reported that it had developed local policy guidelines for initiatives to decrease youth access to tobacco products. Attachment 12 at 2. In fiscal year 1995, a local WIS ASSIST coalition planned to "[e]ducate local government policy makers about youth access issues." Attachment 13 at 2. During fiscal year 1996, WIS ASSIST planned to "pursue the enactment of local clean indoor air ordinances that will cover all public and privately owned facilities open to the public." Attachment 2, at att. B. WIS ASSIST Encountered Problems Implementing The ASSIST Project WIS ASSIST complained in early 1993 that: A major staff and coalition (state and local) problem has been the extraordinary number of reports, planning documents, contacts, etc. required by the [ASSIST] contract which in many ways greatly lessen the ability of staff to spend time developing an effective statewide strategy .... Many volunteers have complained that thus far ASSIST has been a cumbersome bureaucratic drain on their energ~ and resources. Attachment 5. TI30521437

ATTAC~TS (excerpts only, unless otherwise nomd) Number Documcms WIS ASSIST Quarterly Report Content for Second Quarter, Phase I - Year 2 (April 16, 1993) 2 WIS ASSIST Request for Proposal (Fiscal Year 1996) 3 WIS ASSIST Technical Proposal (Sept. 25, 1990) 4 WIS ASSIST Quarterly Report for Third Quarter, Phase 1 (Aug. 9, 1992) 5 WIS ASSIST Quarterly Report for First Quarter, Phase 1, Year 2 (Jan. 22, 1993) 6 WIS ASSIST Activity Form (Jan. 1, 1994 to Mar. 31, 1994) 7 WIS ASSIST Quarterly Report for Third Quarter, Phase II, Year 3 (July 21, 1994) 8 WIS ASSIST 1994-1995 Annual Action Plan (Aug. 1994) 9 WIS ASSIST Quarterly Report for Fourth Quarter, Phase II, Year 3 (Oct. 20, 1994) 10 WIS ASSIST Quarterly Report (Oct. 1, 1993- Dec. 31, 1993) 11 WIS ASSIST Project Managemem Plan - Final 12 WIS ASSIST Activity Form (Oct. 1, 1993 to Oct. 31, 1993) 13 WIS ASSIST Annual Action Plan, 1994-95 TI30521438

T|30521439

ASSIST QUARTERLY REPORT CONrl'ENT FOR SECOND QUARTER PHASE I - Y-EAR 2 REPORTING PERIOD: January_ 1, 1993-March 31, 1993 Due Date: April 21, 1993 State: WISCONSIN Contract Number: NO-CN-15373 SUMMARY OF QUARTER'S PROGRESS Highlight the key accomplishments. 1. First draft of Comprehensive Smoldng Control Plan completed. 2. Expansion of state coalition to include local coalitions. 3. Reorganization and planning activities of state coalition Public Policy Committe~ 4. Four outreach training and conference events planned for next two quarters. 5. Design and conduct of two (of four) regional training and planning events for local coalitions. 6. Several local coalitions planned and conducted major outreach and activities regarding use of tobacco products by youth. 7. Revitalization of Project Executive Committee and revision of connection to the state coalition. 8. Began work on fin'st Annual Action Plan. 9. Continued growth and expansion of local coalitions and a great deal of progress in their planning activities. 10. Several staff retreats for planning and project management improvement. NAME OF PROJECT DIRECTOR SUBMI'rrING Patrick Remington, M.D. DATE SUBMITTED A.odl 16. 1993 ,~ / .. SIGNATURE OF PROJECT DIRECTOR~ SIGNATURE OF NCI PROJECT OFFICI~R SIGNATURE OF NCI CONTRACT OFFICER DATE ACCEPTED TI30521440

f. DOI-I staff have also begun networking and providing assistance to groups working in developmental disabilities and family planning who share a common interest regarding smoking and pregnancy. The state Women's Council has recently joined the coalition. g. During this quarter the Executive Committee was reorganized to include more people of color and representatives from other groups. The Lung Association replaced their staff member with ~ volunteer with a dental background. The DOH has replaced two staff with representatives from a local coalition (rural area) and invited a representative from the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin. At this time the committee make-up includes in racial/ethnic backgrounds: three African Americans, one Asian American and eight caucasians. In terms of work backgrounds, the boards is composed of three state employees (administrators), one local public health worker, four university, one dentist, two medical, one business, one not- for-profit health agency. What is the relationship between project ASSIST and other tobacco control coalitions in your state? The Tobacco-Free ~¢isconsin Coalition was formed to apply for the ASSIST funds. A great deal of time has been spent during the last year trying to figure out the relationship betweefi the project, that coalition, and now all of the local coalitions. Fortunately, during this last quarter a great deal of progress has been made in this area. The project Executive Committee has recommended to the Coalition Steering Committee that the project be seen as part of th-e' coalition and that the Steering Committee be the primary bcxly to develop intervention fund spending recommendations. The Executive Committee has also voted in favor of providing the coalition with funding for ongoing support staff services while ASSIST staff will continue to provide program and technical support to the coalition and its committees. The Coalition chair is a permanent member of the Executive Committee. All parties agree that the long-term goal is to create a permanent, self-sustaining coalition and to gradually make it into the primary tobacco control voice in the state. This wilt be accomplished gradually with the hope that ASSIST staff will, over time, play less of a guiding role and more of a facilitative role in the coalition's business. These issues and changes will be reviewed by the Steering Committee in April. All the local coalitions begun through the project are being asked to join the state coalition and join in its governance. Several local and state coalition members are represented oft the project Executive Committee. The field staff sense is that many of the local coalitions are beginning to stand on their own and develop an internal self of direction, with ASSIST staff moving towards more of a supportive role. The only free-standing statewide coalition apart" from the Tobacco-Free Wisconsin Coalition is WISH (Wisconsin Initiative on Smoking and Health). It is a member of the state coalition and many of its members are also active in local coalitions. However, it has more of an individual activist perspective and has attracted many individuals formerly in GASP. Its main areas of emphasis have been worksites and restaurants. It works closely with local T!30521441

coalition efforts and is in frequent communication with ASSIST staff who are very supportive of WiSH's efforts and distribute some of its materials. How many local coalitions do you currently have in place? There are now 32 local coalitions with an additional seven in formation (see map enclosed). In several areas of the state, a number of coalitions have begun joining together for the purpose of applying for and managing the state funded tobacco control grants designed to provide staffing in the major metropolitan areas of the state. DOFI and ACS staff are providing regional training and planning activities for these coalitions and reviewing and assessing their progress with a view towards funding decisions for the first intervention year. These coalitions are in varying levels of preparation, although most are moving along r rapidly in completing their planning phases. Several have already embarked in community tobacco control activities. How are state and local coalitions working together to complete the CSCP? Are the systems similar foi- drafting the AAP? If not, briefly describe interaction. Both state and local coalitions have been involved in the development of the CSCP and now in the AAP. Working groups composed of state and local members met to provide input and ideas in the development of the control plan. The priorities in the control plan were set by. these groups and the sequencing of much of that plan was also developed by these groups (e.g., initial focus on youth/education and work.sites). DOH and ACS staff also regularly attend local coalition general and state coalition committee meetings to solicit and bring back information about what the plan should address and focus upon. The state coalition will take the project CSCP and incorporate it into a broader Year 2000 control plan. The AAP is being planned in a similarly eclectic way to facilitate the input of a large number of dispersed groups. The state coalition Steering Committee will be developing funding recommendations for the AAP and present them to the project Executive Committee (which has contractual obligations to determine these expenditures (but is expected to approve the coalition recommendations). The coalition's Media and Policy committees are setting the annual agendas in those two areas. The local coal2tions will also provide input toward the AAP at ¢ Regional Priority Setting Meetings in March and April. All of this input will be combined for the AAP draft due May 15. However, continued planning will occur via a state coalition meeting set for May 17 and through local coalition planning meetings. In general, the local coalitions have expressed a desire t~ use the state CSCP and the parts of it already included in the first CSCP draft submitted by staff, as a guideline for their action plan (our dra.ft included many action plan steps in it) rather than develop a separate plan from scratch. Note the date(s) and nature of coalition meetings (including committee meetings) this quarter. State coalition: TI30521442