LTE: Big tobacco companies not telling truth about I-185
As I’ve been reading the coverage of and response to I-185, I’ve been dismayed by the amount of misdirection and lies in an attempt to confuse voters and protect the tobacco industry.
To shelter their billions, big tobacco is funneling millions into Montanans Against Tax Hikes, a political committee that is running ads that lie about what I-185 does. One of the lies is that it will drive up taxes for everyone. If you don’t use tobacco, you won’t pay.
In addition, the independent Office of Budget and Program Planning is the entity that reviews the budget impact for any initiative or new law. They found that I-185 will raise $72 million in fiscal year 2020 and up to $74 million in fiscal year 2023. One of big tobacco’s favorite lies is that I-185 is some sort of an unfunded mandate. Not true. Medicaid expansion will pay for itself through state savings and the funds raised by I-185.
Finally, I-185 protects current Medicaid recipients from having their coverage taken away. Despite big tobacco’s claims, it does not create a new program. Remember that the ads opposing I-185 are funded by the tobacco companies that profit at the expense of our health. Please support I-185.
Lisa Michael
Bozeman