Republicans are considering a variety of ways to spend the money to be paid the state from cigarette-makers. At least 50-million dollars will come the state’s way in each of the next few years as part of the settlement states like Iowa reached with the tobacco industry. House Speaker Brent Siegrist says about half of that money should be used on tobacco cessation and anti-smoking programs, while the other half could go to any number of projects.House Democrat Leader Dave Schrader would prefer that all the tobacco settlement money be used for health-related programs since the states sued the tobacco industry to reclaim money spent treating tobacco-related illnesses.But Siegrist says the legislature has the authority to spend that money in any way it sees fit.The amount of money the tobacco industry is to pay the state each year is based on smoking rates, which are falling in Iowa, which means the settlement payment will be reduced.
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