Tobacco Controversy Hits Ohio - and Dann

Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann is involved in yet another controversy.  This one concerns the funds in the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation.  Those funds, Governor Strickland and the state's legislative leaders, want to be re-channeled into the $1.5 billion jobs program.  That plan includes, reports Harlan Spector of THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER, about $100 million for the biomedical industry.

The Foundation finds itself with few supporters.  When it attempted to transfer some of the money so that the Governor couldn't access it, Dann's office, says Spector, "sent e-mails ordering foundation officials to 'cease and desist.' The e-mail warned the board members could be held personally liable if they followed through with the transfer."

Until this tug of war over money, the Foundation's mission was popular in Ohio.  But support disappeared when Strickland positioned this as a jobs vs. smoking prevention issue. The anti-tobacco forces fear that the progress which has been made will fade without ongoing activity on behalf of the cause.

Subsequently the Foundation has sued in order for the Franklin County Court to prevent the state from taking most of its endowment.  This Thursday both sides will appear in court.