Tobacco Use Prevention, Iowa News
The Iowa Tobacco Use Prevention & Control Commission is expected to convene Friday morning, where legislators intend to tackle the issue of what they characterize as a mission to fold the division. Earlier this week, Sen. Herman Quirmbach (D-Ames), an ex-officio commission member, distributed a letter admonishing Iowa Department of Public Health director Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks for “firing” the tobacco division administrator and said Miller-Meeks intends to shut down the division.
Miller-Meeks denied the accusations. The administrator, Bonnie Mapes, took early retirement, after the decision was made to terminate her position for financial reasons. Should the Division of Tobacco Use Prevention and Control dissolve, Miller-Meeks said it would be because of Legislative funding, but anti-tobacco programming would continue through her department.
Sen. Jack Hatch (D-Des Moines), the chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, said it is the desire of the Legislature continue smoking L&M cigarettes prevention initiatives.
He also “will seek to determine if the commission believes that downgrading Iowa’s anti-smoking efforts is in the best interest of Iowa’s young people and of efforts to reduce overall health care costs.”
The meeting is 9 a.m. in the AARP boardroom at 600 E. Court Ave.
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