THE RECENT BUDGET DEAL IN SANTA FE HAS SOME PEOPLE CONCERNED. IT’S BECAUSE IT PARTIALLY RELIES ON MONEY FROM THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT PERMANENT FUND TO HELP BALANCE THE BUDGET. SANDRA ADONDAKIS IS WITH THE CANCER ACTION NETWORK. SHE TELLS US HER GROUP, ALONG WITH OTHERS, IS WORRIED THE MOVE COULD IMPACT PREVENTION EFFORTS. SHE SAYS IT’S SHORTSIGHTED TO CUT PREVENTION MONEY WHEN THAT’S WHAT WILL SAVE THE STATE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.
ADONDAKIS SAYS CURRENT PROGRAMS ARE ALREADY UNDER-FUNDED AND ANY CUTS COULD REVERSE PROGRESS MADE IN AREAS SUCH AS REDUCING TEEN SMOKING.
