The Iowa Department of Public Health is asking the legislature and governorfor more money to enforce teen tobacco laws. Iowa failed to meet a federalgoal for reducing the number of kids smoking and that has put five millionfederal dollars in jeopardy. A bill in the U-S Senate would keep Iowa fromlosing the five million IF the state agrees to put more money intoprevention programs. Health Department Spokesman Kevin Teale says the moneycould come from Iowa’s share of the tobacco settlement.Teale says the department is also appealing the ruling that would take awaythe five million.Teale says it’s hard to predict how the appeal may turn out, as this is thefirst year the federal government has decided to penalize states for notmeeting the goals set for reducing teen smoking.
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