Ohio Tobacco Prevention Trust Fund to fight transfer of money to fund economic stimulus plan

The recently proposed bipartisan $1.57 billion Ohio economic stimuls plan calls for transferring $230 million from the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation endowment to support the plan.  This proposal would leave $40 million in the Foundation's endowment.  On Friday, April 4th, the Foundation responded by agreeing to move $190 million of its endowment to three non-profit organizations:  Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids; the American Legacy Foundation; and the Ohio Hospital Association for Healthy Communities Foundation (source: "Budget Battles in Ohio," Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 5, 2008). 

Senate President Harris, House Speaker Husted, and Governor Strickland issued a joint statement on Friday in response to this action by the Foundation. According to their statement, "We will take every step necessary to prevent the foundation from circumventing a bipartisan decision that has been made for the good of all Ohioans."