The tobacco settlement is a blight upon Montana's record. The motivation for this action was government greed. It is an example of the mis-use of government force in a free society. The sale of tobacco is legal. Warnings are placed on every pack. Anyone who can read knows the risk of smoking. A free people must have the right to make good and bad choices.

Smoking does not increase government's expense of providing health care (it actually decreases it because smokers die much earlier). Over 90% of the money is being spent by the states on programs unrelated to smoking.

I propose that the money be returned to the Tobacco companies from which it was extorted. Since that won't happen, I propose that 100% of the money go to a fund to educate the public on the constitutional limits of government authority. Please see my web site for more information.