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Court Frees Tobacco Funds, Decision Appealed |
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Court
Frees Tobacco Funds for use in Medicaid, Other Programs, Decision Appealed
A December 31
decision by the 10th District Ohio Court of Appeals appeared to clear the way
for Governor Ted Strickland to use more than $250 million in tobacco settlement
money in the state budget. The Court said the funds – which had originally been
given to the Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation – could be used on
an expansion of health care for children and optional Medicaid services.
Strickland and lawmakers had planned to spend $258 million on human-services
programs. However, The Legacy Foundation is appealing the decision, and the
battle will now move to the Ohio Supreme Court for a decision on whether to
accept the case. The Legacy Foundation had received the funds from the tobacco
prevention and control group in an effort to prevent them from being spent by
lawmakers on other priorities. The Governor had designated $129 million of the
fund for optional Medicaid services such as vision, podiatry, dental and
hospice care. Another $92 million is to go to adult and child protective
services.
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