Tobacco Documents Online

. RENT BY:RJR NABISCQ ;' 3-24-92 ; 14:27 ; 2026257208i 202457'9350;4 2 UlLOkA>t[M Using rsderal Yunds to Lobby etate and Local Leaderr The Department of Health and Human Services has created a new federal program which will allow federal funds to be used to lobby state and local elected and appointed officials. Called the American Stop Smoking Intervention Study for cancer Prevention or "ASSIST, I' the program is designed to reduce smoking by establishing ' and funding community-based smoking control coalitions in states and large metropolitan areas. These grass-roots organizations would be responsible for accomplishing the goals of the program by, among other things, lobbying - by having a direct impact on and involvement with local media and policymakers. The National Cancer Institute is the agency within the Department charged with the management of the ASSIST program. Potential grantees were sent a model program to use to develop their grant proposals, which was only made public through a Freedom of Information Act request. This model makes several recommendations for activities whioh would clearly call for lobbying. For example, under a section entitled, "Integrating Policies into a Comprehensive Initiative," grantees are told that smoking control advocates should inform policymakers of the importance and benefits of smoking control policies. Under Recommended Activities, the model program states that each grantee should: "[p]rovide information to policymakers on the hazards of involuntary smoking and smokeless tobacco, the addictive properties of nicotine, improper or deceptive advertising practices used to promote tobacco use, the potential for excise taxes to reduce consumption, the degree of public support for restricting smoking in public, and the benefits of smoking control policies. This information can be given to policymakers in a variety of ways, including workshops, meetings with individual policymakers, and through testimony, letters, and the media." The model program does.include a disclaimer on lobbying, but then includes in each of the grants awarded to the states a form entitled, "Disclosure of Lobbying Activities." The Department of Health and Human Services will spend $115 million over seven years on the ASSIST program. An additional $25 to $30 million will be provided by the American Cancer Society. Moreover, the Department also will spend approximately $20 million for national coordination and evaluation. Thirty-seven states submitted proposals to receive ASSIST funds, and seventeen states were awarded grants. These include Colorado, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

SENT BY:RJR NABISCO ; 3-24-92 ; 14:28 ; 20262617206y 20245793504 3 When one looks at the actual grant applications that have been approved, which were also available only under the Freedom of Information Act, it becomes clear that one of the primary goals of the ASSIST program is to create a grass-roots lobbying organization around the United States. For example, the New Jersey ASSIST program would use part of its federal funds to underwrite a task force that will (1) amend existing clean indoor air laws; (2) enact legislation that will restrict minors access to tobacco products;, and (3) promote a state excise tax or ad valorem tax. The Massachusetts ASSIST program will use part of its federal funds to finance a conference involving advocacy and legislative leaders to draft legislation which would be submitted simultaneously to all of the New England state legislatures. The Now Mexico ASSIST program would use federal funds to help finance the New Mexico Committee on the Public Health Impact of Smoking (NMCPHIS). The goal of the committee is to make New Mexico a tobacco free state by 1996. In the past, the Committee has employed a full-time lobbyist to work the state legislature, but it has run short of funds. With the infusion of federal funds, the Comntittee and the New Mexico ASSIST program will "be merged." Some of the grantees were a bit skittish about being too directly involved in lobbying. For example, the Minnesota ASSIST program indicated that it would consider retaining the state's existing tobacco control lobby as a subcontractor. The Colorado ASSIST program would use part of its funds to organize and oversee all of the various groups that are lobbying for legislative changes. Given the experience that many have had when the Legal Services Corporation chose to use taderal funds to lobby Congrsss, the ASSIST program creates an alarming precedent which should be stopped immediately. As the Minnesota grantee noted in its proposal, "What is especially exciting about the plan is that it has the potential to contribute a variety of benef its to the state after the goals of ASSIST have been met. it will provide an excellent opportunity for the creation of a broadly-based health care coalition which could serve the state in other health promotion eftorts." All one has to do is substitute "abortion" or "family planning" for I'smoking" to get a sense of the potential dangers of the ASSIST program. Secretary Sullivan should take the necessary steps to regain control over the ASSIST program and make sure that federal funds are not used to lobby federal, state, and local officials. Once the federal government begins to finance one side of a public policy debate, there can be no debate. There will only be the federal government's position.