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Senate Proposes Deep Cuts in Cancer Program Funding

The Senate Ways & Means Committee has released its Fiscal Year 2010 budget proposal, which severely cut funding to life-saving cancer screening and tobacco control programs by more than 50%!  The full Senate will be voting on this proposal and budget amendments this week.   

The Society has three priority amendments that have been filed to restore vital investments in Massachusetts’ fight against cancer:

Senator Susan Fargo has filed an amendment to partially restore funding for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention programs to $7.4 million.  The current Senate proposal would provide $6.3 million in funding; a 58% decrease from FY09 levels and $1 million less than the House of Representatives approved last month. The additional funding is needed to prevent programs that provide access to breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancer screenings from being reduced or eliminated.

Senator Susan Fargo’s second amendment would partially restore funding to the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program to $7.5 million.  This would still represent a 42% cut to the program over FY09 levels but less than the 61% cut currently proposed.  Without this funding, youth prevention programs, free cessation patch drives, and local education and compliance programs would be eliminated. 

Senator James Eldridge has filed an amendment to close tax loopholes on non-cigarette tobacco products.  These products, including mini cigars and chewing tobacco, are priced and packaged to appeal to kids. Closing this tax loophole will reduce youth consumption and generate $10-$15 million annually to support the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program and the Department of Public Health’s Office of Oral Health.  

Take a minute to contact your Senator in support of these amendments today!



Massachusetts Updates

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