BY SANDY THEIS
Enquirer Columbus Bureau
COLUMBUS -- The major party candidates for governor agree on how to spend as much as $12 billion from a national tobacco litigation settlement. If the money arrives.
Both want some of it set aside for cancer prevention. And both advocated using much or all of the balance to repair Ohio's school buildings.
"I'd like to see us seriously consider applying it to school buildings to meet the Supreme Court's mandate that every child has a safe school building," said GOP nominee Bob Taft.
Democrat Lee Fisher called school building repairs the first area he would look at after funding anti-smoking programs.
Last year, the Ohio Supreme Court declared the state's method of funding public schools unfair and unconstitutional. The majority opinion decried the condition of some school buildings. A recent federal survey deemed Ohio's school buildings worst among the 50 states.
While the General Assembly has funneled money into repair and construction, aging and unsafe buildings remain a major problem, especially in urban and poor rural districts.
Mr. Taft also suggested spending some of the tobacco money to expand a Medicaid health program for uninsured children. Both he and Mr. Fisher have advocated expanding the program, which is jointly funded by the state and federal governments.
Earlier this week, amid reports that a tobacco settlement is expected soon, the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and American Lung Association called for setting aside one-third of the money Ohio receives for smoking prevention.
"Since Ohio's lawsuit seeks reimbursement of billions of taxpayer dollars spend treating people with smoking-related illnesses, we feel strongly that the state commit a portion of this settlement to prevention programs," the organizations wrote in joint letters to Gov. George Voinovich and the men hoping to succeed him.
Both Mr. Taft and Mr. Fisher said it is premature to commit to the one-third figure, but agreed that prevention programs should receive some money.
Also expected to compete for the money is the federal government, which argues that it should be reimbursed for its share of Medicaid costs.
"I believe that money should stay in the state of Ohio," Mr. Fisher said, "and we may have to fight the federal government to do that." Mr. Taft pledged to fight as well.
Ohio is one of 40 states that reached a $465.8 billion settlement last year with tobacco companies. The deal fell apart in Congress, which was charged with approving it.
Negotiators for the state have acknowledged that a settlement appears close, but caution the money would be paid over 25 years.
