Governor Tom Vilsack says the millions of dollars Iowa will get from thefederal tobacco settlement provide a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Iowa toinvest in its health care system. Speaking to Iowa Rural Health Associationmembers, Vilsack said he wants to use the money to build a world-classhealth care system.Vilsack says lower-than-expected tax collections for the state will lead toa big fight in the state legislature this year over how to spend the tobaccomoney.Vilsack says it would be a tragic mistake to put the tobacco money in thestate’s budget, rather than identify specific ways to spend it.Iowa’s first tobacco settlement payment of 75-million dollars is expected toarrive at the end of the summer.
Iowa's Radio News Network
