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House Budget Cuts Program Funding

On May 1, the House of Representatives voted to finalize its Fiscal Year 2010 budget proposal, which cut funding for disease prevention and health promotion, including life-saving cancer screening programs, by 50%!  In addition, the proposal funds the state’s effective tobacco control program over $4 million less than the current fiscal year. 

Advocates from across Massachusetts asked their Representatives to support three important amendments:

Chairman Jeffrey Sanchez’s amendment to restore some funding for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention programs to $13.2 million.

Representative Jonathan Hecht’s amendment to restore funding for tobacco control to $12.75 million and his second amendment that would close tax loopholes on kid-friendly, non-cigarette tobacco products such as mini cigars and smokeless tobacco and dedicate revenue to tobacco control and oral health initiatives.   

Unfortunately, none of these amendments were included in the final House budget proposal. At these funding levels, access to breast, cervical, and prostate cancer screenings would be reduced and highly effective programs to prevent youth from smoking and help smokers quit would be eliminated.  Our next point of advocacy comes once the Senate Ways & Means Committee presents their budget proposal for the full Senate to vote on in mid-May.  Stay tuned and speak up to defend these life-saving programs! 



Massachusetts Updates

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