Dawn Aberle, Moorhead, letter: Don’t let lawmakers divert tobacco dollars

MOORHEAD — As a mom, I try to teach my children the importance of right and wrong. What an excellent example of right and wrong I can use with the introduction of HB 1353 in the great state of North Dakota.

An example of what is right: Some 162,774 North Dakota voters voted for and passed Measure 3 in 2008, dedicating a small percentage of tobacco settlement dollars to pay for a comprehensive tobacco use prevention and control program. Another example of what is right: how the Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control is responsibly using those dollars to accomplish their goals of helping schools write policies that keep those grounds tobacco-free, offering free nicotine-replacement products to tobacco users who want to quit and helping health care organizations do a better job of asking people about tobacco use and providing resources to help users quit.

Here’s an example of what is wrong: State Senators. Judy Lee, R-West Fargo; Ray Holmberg, R-Grand Forks; and Tom Fischer, R-Fargo, as well as Reps. Bob Skarphol, R-Tioga, Bill Devlin, R-Finley, and Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield, ignoring the will of the people and trying to remove that funding with HB 1353.

I urge Herald readers to call their legislators, let them know that every vote does count and 162,774 of those votes wanted this money designated for tobacco prevention. Tell them not to support HB 1353.

Dawn Aberle

Tags: in the mail, und medical school, bob skarphol, tobacco settlement, university system, opinion, smoking, health