Maybe I've been gone from Minnesota too long. From a distance, it looks like Minnesota's political values have dramatically changed. I grew up in a state with a strong health care system and a strong commitment to the health and care of its citizens. That doesn't seem to be true anymore when it comes to preventing the massive physical and economic harms caused by tobacco. Just last year, Minnesota was a national leader in policies and programs that educated kids and families about the dangers of tobacco. Minnesota's youth access to tobacco laws were among the best in the nation at preventing teens from obtaining cigarettes. In 1998, Minnesota won $6 billion in a lawsuit with the tobacco industry. Money from that lawsuit was set aside and used to build one of the most successful tobacco prevention programs in the country. Today it is a different story. Not a single dime from the $6 billion lawsuit will be spent on tobacco prevention programs this year. The program's been killed. Legislators say there isn't any money available. Do you really expect me to believe they can't set aside a small portion of $6 billion to help keep the big tobacco companies away from our kids? Other states are doing just that in spite of having to deal with massive budget shortfalls. Mississippi has cut youth smoking by 25 percent since 1999 using money from their lawsuit. When was the last time Mississippi ranked higher at anything than Minnesota? At the same time, powerful legislators almost succeeded in passing legislation to weaken the fines levied on stores that sell cigarettes to kids. What in the world could possibly make that a good idea? All of this while tobacco industry marketing expenditures topped $9 billion a year in the United States and the amount the tobacco industry spends marketing tobacco products in convenience stores skyrocketed. This isn't a partisan rant. While Gov. Pawlenty lead the charge in shutting down Minnesota's successful tobacco prevention program, the Senate DFL leadership refused to stand and fight for Minnesota's kids and families. Calling any of them "leaders" is hardly appropriate. As a result of this legislative session the tobacco companies will sell more cigarettes to more children in Minnesota. That's just plain wrong. Luverne was and still is a great place to raise a family. I look forward to every chance I get to bring my own growing family back home. But I wonder about my home state. Let's hope I'm wrong. Maybe Minnesota's political values haven't changed. But from 1,000 miles away, Minnesota looks like a different place. Carter HeadrickAustin, Texas
