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* UPDATED x1 * Cancer Society blasts Quitline closure

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* From a press release…

Today, the Illinois Tobacco Quitline ended its operations following Gov. Bruce Rauner’s executive order that suspended $26 million in social services and public health grants, including the $3.1 million allocated to the Quitline. In response, Heather Eagleton, Illinois government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, released the following statement:

“Today, Illinois became the only state in the country without a tobacco quitline. As an organization dedicated to tobacco prevention and cessation, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is alarmed and deeply concerned about Governor Rauner’s decision to eliminate all funding for this life-saving resource. We believe this decision is short-sighted and will ultimately cost, rather than save the state money.

“The Illinois Tobacco Quitline answered more than 90,000 calls in just the last year, leading 43 percent of its callers to successfully stop smoking. Most cessation tools have around a 20 percent success rate.

“What’s more, the Quitline is funded not through taxpayer dollars, but rather through money from the Tobacco Master Settlement, which gave Illinois $265 million this fiscal year to support programs like the Quitline. Taxpayers do, however, pay nearly $1 billion a year in tobacco-related Medicaid costs – costs that could dramatically increase with the elimination of the Quitline’s free and valuable cessation service.

“Ending Quitline operations means cutting a valuable lifeline that smokers have to a healthier future. It means eliminating a tool hospitals and physicians use every day to get their patients on the right track, and it means putting at risk thousands of lives that could otherwise be spared the health effects of smoking.

“ACS CAN strongly urges Governor Rauner to reconsider his decision and commit to restoring the Quitline and helping tobacco users and kick their addiction.”

What’s also weird about this cut is that the governor has proposed funding the Quitline next fiscal year. So, either they’ll just kill it off altogether, or they’ll have to rehire all those state employees who lost their jobs today.

*** UPDATE *** Governor’s office response…

Smoking is a serious health issue facing Illinoisans, but the fact remains that Pat Quinn enacted a phony budget with a $1.6 billion hole. The bipartisan legislation passed by the General Assembly was not a complete solution, and reviewing grants and agency spending is part of a comprehensive approach to close the deficit without raising taxes and without borrowing.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 2:23 pm

Comments

As someone who smoked cigs for 15 years and finally quit for good, I can tell you that your chances of quitting for good get better every time you try to quit. I need to ask though, can we just have our helpline triage to the other 49 states with a quit line? “Illinois became the only state in the country without a tobacco quitline”

Comment by Biker Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 2:33 pm
They don’t have to rehire the same employees…

Comment by Liberty Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 2:36 pm
Big tobacco couldn’t be happier.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 2:37 pm
Pic of the Gov
In his Carhartt
Workin’ the budget
Figurin’ out this move: http://tinyurl.com/kxb79vx

Comment by crazybleedingheart Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 2:38 pm
Well, look at the bright side. All of those out of work employees can now take their free motorcycle training classes at their leisure, and not have to schedule around their jobs.

To say Rauner and his ‘team’ have no grasp of optics would be an understatement.

At this point, I’d say he’s actually trying to paint himself in the worst light. This can’t all be by accident.

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 2:38 pm
So if these are state employees who will be terminated, and potentially rehired, do they get rehired as Tier 2 pension employees? If so, I think we just saw the first (of many) programs “cut” only to be resurrected with Tier 2 employees.

Comment by Concerned Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 2:41 pm
Maybe Rauner is more Marlboro Man than Paul Bunyan. Perhaps he hopes that fewer teachers and state workers give up smoking, because reducing life expectancy will help the underfunded pensions.

Comment by AC Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 2:42 pm
Penny wise and pound foolish as always, Gov.

Comment by CharlieKratos Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 2:42 pm
Concerned - it’s based on when you entered the system.

Comment by AC Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 2:43 pm
Concerned: They’d still be whatever Tier they first got hired under.

Comment by CharlieKratos Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 2:43 pm
Well, this is definitely going to show up in the WHO’s next edition of the Global Tobacco Control Report (GTCR).

Comment by Juice Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 2:48 pm
The Quitline is housed at the Illinois Lung Association. I know a nurse who went to work there recently as a Quitline counselor. I hope she can get her old job back.

Comment by Ex-smoker Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 2:50 pm
Those who man the quitline aren’t state employees. The American Lung Association receive a grant from IDPH to run the program. Non-profit employees are losing their jobs.

Comment by Jon Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:04 pm
Boy, Governor Rauner sure is making lots of friends, ain’t he?

Comment by NewWestSuburbanGOP'er Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:06 pm
2,500 people a day, 365 days a year call the line?

Comment by Shemp Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:14 pm
Smokin’ and jokin’ but no tokin’.

Comment by Publius Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:15 pm
Shemp, you need a new abacus as its closer to 247 people.

Comment by LINK Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:22 pm
Can someone explain fund accounting to the Raunerites? This is not GRF money, it makes no sense to cut it. This cut doesn’t help anyone except big tobacco. I think I answered my own question.

Comment by Tough Guy Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:23 pm
Whoops. 250 a day is still more than I would have ever guessed.

Comment by Shemp Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:25 pm
To the Update;

===…t Pat Quinn enacted a phony budget with a $1.6 billion hole. The bipartisan legislation passed by the General Assembly was not a complete solution, and reviewing grants and agency spending is part of a comprehensive approach to close the deficit without raising taxes and without borrowing.===

So, is anyone working in the Press Shop today or are they too busy looking for RTW Resolution “wins” to come up with a response.

How lazy are they?

“Just cut and paste..’Blah, blah…Pat Quinn…blah, blah…phony budget…and end it with narrowing it taxes or both, I don’t care. Why won’t Madeupville get us that passed resolution stuff?”

Right? Exactly right.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:27 pm
The Illinois division of the ACS has become a rabbit warren of Democratic operatives in the last 10 years. This release proves it.

Comment by Don Draper Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:31 pm
Don Draper, what are you smoking?

Comment by D.P.Gumby Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:35 pm
Not a single tear for this one. Compared with the others, this cut is much easier to deal with. I don’t know the origin of this, but it could have come to life as part of the tobacco settlement years back. Smoking is hazardous. Ask anyone old enough to speak. People quit smoking for a variety of reasons; they die, they almost die and see the light, they cost too much because the tax is so high, they don’t like to smell, they can’t climb one flight of stairs, they’re sick of freezing their butts off in cold weather, someone close to them tells them to quit because their breath is bad and their teeth are yellow, their kids experiment with smoking and that scares the hell out of them, no one will come to their house because it reeks, no one will drive with them because the car reeks, their work is non-smoking, people at the gym won’t talk to them, and finally….they called a helpline and a stranger said “Don’t”. That last one’s the biggie. Yikes.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:38 pm
Completely short sighted and ill advised…how dare he send out such a BS press pop … He totally disrespects the electorate and the process and the governments ability to act in a proactive manner…

Comment by Loop Lady Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:38 pm
When lawmakers diverted money from the tobacco settlement to plug budget holes in 2002, they were blasted by the Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald and other newspaper editorial boards.

The problem with Rauner’s response is he has choices, and everyone knows it: stop cancer or provide tax breaks for rich folks and big businesses. He is choosing the latter.

Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:41 pm
==Not a single tear for this one. ==

I’m sure the people that lost their jobs appreciate that.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:44 pm
I don’t like sudden cuts that cause people to lose their jobs.

I’m a bit skeptical about the claim that 43 percent of smokers kicked the habit after making a phone call. Maybe I just need more info about what happens after one calls the Quitline.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:47 pm
“People quit smoking for a variety of reasons; they die”

That rather seems to miss the point…

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:50 pm
Afraid this is the tip of the iceberg in terms of layoffs in the private sector. Providers are already sending out notices to staff and a lot more are coming.

Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:55 pm
As tired as I already am of Rauner blaming the budget mess on the previous administration, the Democrats had 12 years to make cuts that were less objectionable or to put a permanent revenue source in place. Maybe Rauner would have slashed these programs anyway, but it would have been a lot tougher to defend if the Dems had fixed the budget the “right” way.

Comment by SAP Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:56 pm
Cry me a freakin’ river. I’m sick of these sissy do-gooders.

Comment by Neglected stepchild Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:56 pm
@ A Guy -

Another ’save a penny, waste $10′ conservative I see.

Of course you don’t shed a tear. Rauner saves a tiny bit of cash, but in 5-10 years we’ll spend $100,000 to keep a single medicade patient alive with escalating treatments, culminating in perhaps a lung transplant. Or expensive chemo/radiation treatments.

It’s sooooooooo easy to cut these funds, because Rauner, and you apparently have no long game.

It’s like canceling your termite treatments that cost $10/month, because you’re too dumb to realize in 10 years, it’ll cost $50,000 to mitigate the hazards.

The lunacy is breathtaking, but not unexpected from a vulture capitalist.

BTW, how do you feel about that ‘extra’ $633,000 that Rauner has promised for FREE motorcycle training classes? Did you shed a tear for that? Or is that one kosher?

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:58 pm
Quinn isn’t throwing these programs under the bus, Rauner, you are. Meanwhile, corporate welfare continues…

Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 3:58 pm
Makes no sense to fire people and shut down a program only to start up and rehire again in a couple of.months, as the governor is proposing.

Let’s see some of that whiz-bang business management.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:00 pm
If all these government programs worked as “intended” we wouldn’t have any problems at all. No one would be in too much debt, no one would smoke, no one would text and drive, no one would do heroin, and everyone would be retrained for their next job when a robot takes theirs, you get the point, I hope. I think the truth is that most these programs are nothing more than paybacks for votes and another way of churning our tax dollars out to contributors.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:03 pm
Word:

They made a major error in their presentation of the FY16 budget. It was made perfectly clear to those in the know that just because something was included in the introduced budget didn’t mean it end up being there. They have brought this line of attack on themselves by not being more careful in how they crafted the budget.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:04 pm
For non sequitur of the week, I nominate:

….but the fact remains that Pat Quinn enacted a phony budget with a $1.6 billion hole.

I’ll give their team some credit though, at least there isn’t a union reference this time.

Comment by AC Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:04 pm
=== Can someone explain fund accounting to the Raunerites? This is not GRF money, it makes no sense to cut it. This cut doesn’t help anyone except big tobacco. I think I answered my own question. ===

I assume Rauner intends to divert the settlement money for GRF purposes. It may or may not be wise from a policy perspective, but it’s not like this puts money back in the pockets of the tobacco companies.

Comment by Just Observing Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:05 pm
The Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement funds were supposed to be used on tobacco cessation programs (among other things). This program was a result of that (I think).

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:05 pm
I too am skeptical regarding the call volume and success rate.

Comment by Just Observing Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:06 pm
@Anon,

Just to be clear, you’re suggesting (No, saying) that the American Cancer Society is at best a ‘jobs program’ for campaign contributors? And the Quitline is staffed simply as political payback?

Sure. And the flip side of your narrative would be what? End all gov programs, and society would simply work better?

How about we start with eliminating the Dept of Ag. Oh…that’s right…we’d be right back to ‘The Jungle’.

No regulation or Gov program has EVER helped society…got it.

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:07 pm
@ Just Observing
“I too am skeptical regarding the call volume and success rate.”

Why? Because it’s working?

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:10 pm
==If all these government programs worked as “intended” we wouldn’t have any problems at all.==

Anon - We should demand the same from everything and everyone else too. Maybe we should start with the governor, if he can’t enact 100% if his agenda, and if it isn’t completely effective, then he should admit defeat and step down.

If we held hospitals to that standard, then we wouldn’t have to worry about some of the other cuts. What you describe sounds like a perfect world where everything works perfectly all the time.

Comment by AC Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:15 pm
Anon 4:03, that is one of the goofiest comments ever.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:18 pm
Who is Illinois being compassionate to, now, non-smoking, rich people?

Comment by Cheswick Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:24 pm
Pat Quinn passed a dishonest budget.

But how honest is the budget Rauner has proposed? What about those pension payments?

Also, Bruce Rauner asked for the tax hike to expire. At that point he took some ownership of the shortfall, no?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:25 pm
THE FACT REMAINS that this suspension comes in month 10 of a 12 month contract. There ain’t a full cookie jar after 10 months of services, but their phony-boloney “savings” are for the full year’s amount.

Comment by Reese's Pieces Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:27 pm
Doesn’t Rauner’s budget shortchange the pension funds?

Isn’t shortchanging the pension funds just a form of borrowing?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:27 pm
“43 percent of smokers kicked the habit after making a phone call.” I don’t claim the number is true, but a possible explanation is that the majority of people who call the hotline are ones who are already ready to quit.

Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:30 pm
Carl, I mean you’re correct. But borrowing from other funds requires basically no interest be paid. Borrowing from the pension funds requires 7.5% interest be paid, so there’s money to be made going that route, you know, to help the Wall Street economy or something.

Comment by Juice Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:39 pm
Who cares about the smoking cessation numbers?

Rauner didn’t try to justify the cut by saying that the quitline didn’t work.

He said he can’t (doesn’t want to) afford it.

That’s a VALUES answer, not a STRATEGY or EFFECTIVENESS answer.

So hold RAUNER to the mat re: his VALUES, not the social services agencies to the mat re: their strategy/effectiveness.

He is defunding existing, promised, signed grants.

It is on him to make the justification.

If his only excuse is “I don’t wanna pay,” let’s make sure that’s what we focus on.

Comment by crazybleedingheart Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:39 pm
corporate governance at its finest….not so much.

Comment by Jorge Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:42 pm
We should get rid of the hotline in the other 49 states. Paternalistic programs like this are not something the government should be funding.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:52 pm
(With head firmly banging against desk) Anon, here in the State of Illinois, we will get right on eliminating a program in the 49 states we have no control over that is 100% paid for by tobacco companies (read not the Government) as part of the master settlement agreement.

Comment by Juice Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 4:58 pm
@Anon

“Paternalistic programs like this are not something the government should be funding.”

Right. Except we should. Of course, as I said earlier it’s folks like you that don’t have a long game. WE ARE paying for smoking related disease, and their related expenses every day. Overwhelmingly the proportion of health care related expenses due to smoking are borne on the less educated, and less wealthy population. And guess who pays for that care?

You do. (unless you don’t pay taxes). So the modest cost of a couple of million is cut in the vein of ‘fiscal responsibility’ so that in 10 years we are paying HUNDREDS of millions treating the disease.

Only a dolt would find that math advantageous.

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 5:00 pm
More drama from a one termer who is proving to be as big a goofball as Blago.

Comment by illinoised Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 5:12 pm
===BTW, how do you feel about that ‘extra’ $633,000 that Rauner has promised for FREE motorcycle training classes? Did you shed a tear for that? Or is that one kosher?===

Nope, wouldn’t shed a tear for this one either.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 5:13 pm
Workin’ to save Illinoisans from the corrupt bargain between tobacco and lungs.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 5:18 pm
BTW, of the cuts made by Gov. Rauner, what’s the ratio of waste to programs?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 5:26 pm
And of the spending added by Rauner, what’s the ratio of waste & inflated salaries to new programs?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 5:27 pm
Two points.

Really, 43%? Prove it. Please don’t tell me it was based on self-reporting. Even our President lies about the extent of his smoking.

If I had the power to return money back to some agencies that Gov. Wronger has slashed, I would get pretty far down the list before I returned money to the smokers hotline. Disabled children and foster children programs would be the first two restored. There are many others that would leapfrog the smokers hotline. Just sayin’

Comment by Jake From Elwood Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 5:32 pm
@ A Guy
“Nope, wouldn’t shed a tear for this one either.”

I think you missed the point. All of these cuts to social programs, yet your personal hero ‘Raunerhood’ has found an ‘extra’ $633,000 to provide FREE motorcycle training classes.

Cut autism funding, children on vents, cigarette cessation funding…and yet the motorcycle riders get increased funding for free lessons.

And that doesn’t bother you. Nice.

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 5:37 pm
Translation of the Rauner statement:
Smoke up kids, we need the tax revenue.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 5:48 pm
It should be noted that the $26 million in social service cuts represent 1.6 percent of the $1.6 billion shortfall.

If those programs were priorities, you’d think high-priced superstar managers could make it work somehow, or apply their big brains to alternatives.

The programs aren’t priorities and the cuts are ideologically, not fiscally, driven.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 5:49 pm
Someone needs to remind Bruce that he still needs to find another 1.571 Billion…and that’s not even taking into account the 2.2 Billion of phony savings from his budget.

Unless GTCR or Citadel plans on doing to him a solid, he’s got a long, long way to go.

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 5:58 pm
Bring back Camel Joe! The new spokesman for the Rauner Admin!

Comment by BlameBruceRauner Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 5:59 pm
If the funding is coming from the Master Settlement, is it legal for the Gov to do this? Is Lisa going to weigh in?

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 6:07 pm
The cigar smoking governor say’s smoke-em if you got em

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 6:11 pm
Here’s some info if you are interested in the TMS:

http://www.naag.org/publications/naagazette/volume_1_number_2/the_abcs_of_the_tobacco_master_settlement_agreement.php
http://www.idph.state.il.us/TobaccoWebSite/msa.htm

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 6:17 pm
Face it the Bush Depression destroyed the IL economy. The Quinn budget is no phonier than that counts $3 billion in pension and health care hocus pocus
In the meantime while outsourced his “BLIND trust management to NY the honchos have already made a nice drop accordin’ to ISBE

Comment by Anonin' Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 6:46 pm
Wordslinger, as usual, nails it at 5:49. These cuts are not only ideological, they are also part of an effort to get his phoney “turnaround agenda” passed. “Vote for me and I’ll restore the funding for the autistic kids.” Reminds me as a cruel version of the classic National Lampoon cover “If you don’t buy this magazine we will kill this dog.”
http://www.newspaperdeathwatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/lampoon-231×300.jpg

Comment by G'Kar Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 7:37 pm
Sorry, that link above does not, as I thought, go to the National Lampoon cover.

Comment by G'Kar Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 7:39 pm
=== Can someone explain fund accounting to the Raunerites? This is not GRF money, it makes no sense to cut it. This cut doesn’t help anyone except big tobacco. I think I answered my own question. ===

==I assume Rauner intends to divert the settlement money for GRF purposes. It may or may not be wise from a policy perspective, but it’s not like this puts money back in the pockets of the tobacco companies.==

People don’t quit smoking and continue to buy cigarettes. That’s how it puts money in the pockets of the tobacco companies. Pretty simple.

Comment by Tough Guy Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 7:51 pm
Sorry, I quit a two pack a day habit by myself. I didn’t need a “helpline” to walk me off a ledge if I didn’t get my next smoke. This is exactly what got us in trouble in the first place - people ewant government to be everything for everybody, cradle to grave. Sorry, no sympathy here.

Comment by Joe Schmoe Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 7:53 pm
Every social program cut or ended in new budget plan. What are goofy legislators doing? Heroin. Yes Heroin. Lets fight Heroin and forget the masses of people. AA and Narcon are free. Drugs may save an addict for another day. The big question. why the push on this??? Federal dollars to hire cops? Other fed money? Sheesh. The needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many. Great job! Anthony.

Comment by real one Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 8:17 pm
“I didn’t need a “helpline” to walk me off a ledge if I didn’t get my next smoke.”

Bully for you, but different people are different.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 8:18 pm
Many people speak in terms that the quitline will save us x amount of dollars. At this point do you really think the state will recognize those savings and reduce the hfs budget accordingly? The state is out of money. If we can use the tobacco money for other purposes, including paying down Medicaid bills we already can barely afford, i think we should.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 9:50 pm
==At this point do you really think the state will recognize those savings and reduce the hfs budget accordingly?==

Of course not. Instead, the state won’t have to increase the Medicaid payment by millions of dollars 10 years from now when we’re stuck with the tab when all of the folks that could have quit get emphysema/heart disease/lung cancer instead. I don’t get why preventative care is such a novel idea to some people.

Please try to keep up.

Comment by Jimmy Baseball Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 10:36 pm
==the fact remains that Pat Quinn enacted a phony budget ==

Did they hire Holden Caufield to work in the press office?

To the point, the Gov-elect told them not to fix it in December.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 11:20 pm
Wow, glad to see ACS is willing to stand up for something. Where were they when the most substantial piece of health legislation in a generation was being passed (ACA)? Oh, but don’t you dare shut down a phone number!

Comment by K3 Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 11:27 pm
Get used to such . . . more coming.

Comment by Percival Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 12:20 am
“S̶m̶o̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ Motorcycle riding is hazardous. Ask anyone old enough to speak.”

And yet…

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Apr 16, 15 @ 10:41 am
Pfizer will probably take over. They spent many millions to create draconian smoking bans intended to steer people to their cessation products. The only difference is that there will be no more free advertising.

Comment by generalsn Friday, Apr 17, 15 @ 10:11 am
i think everyone is missing the point. the funding is not through IL taxpayers, but through a lawsuit settlement by Big Tobacco. so Rauner is stealing $$$ designated to go to American Lung Assoc.

Comment by Matty Mo Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 12:12 pm