A Wisconsin lawmaker says anti-smoking programs don't work, and we can't afford to increase their funding.
State Senator Glenn Grothman says, "Everybody knows you're not supposed to smoke!" The West Bend Republican says even though there is $10-million a year spent on anti-smoking efforts, last year smoking increased in our state from 70 packs per person to 71 packs.
"I think what's going on is we hear such a strong anti-smoking message we made it the cool way for young people to rebel and are in fact increasing smoking."
Grothman says it's "absurd" that Democrats want to triple anti-smoking funding. He says, it's an insult to even consider such a ridiculous spending increase at a time of fiscal crisis. He says it's just beyond greed.
The state is in a fiscal crisis; we have an over billion dollar deficit and the Democrats want to increase spending on anti-smoking programs from $10- to $30-million a year."
Grothman says that shows the Democrats are not serious about passing a budget. He says teens smoke because they are defying authority who told them not to smoke! Grothman notes, even the longstanding Surgeon General warning doesn't seem to help.
"Everybody has seen that warning so many times in their life it just illustrates how silly it is to say one more warning — be it on TV be it in the magazine — is going to make any difference."
Meanwhile, Grothman says, financial contributions to certain health groups aren't intended to help oust Republicans from office.
"When I give money to the Cancer Society, I think I'm giving money for cancer research, not to remove Republicans from office ."
Grothman is asking the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association to apologize to their contributors for using donated money to attack legislators.