MN: HATCH: GROUP SHOULD GIVE UP SMOKING-BAN CAMPAIGNS

Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune
Date: Wednesday, January 9, 2002
Author: Deborah Caulfield Rybakand / David Phelps / Star Tribune
URL: here

Attorney General Mike Hatch has asked the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco (MPAAT) to stop funding smoking-ban campaigns and devote more resources to help smokers quit.

During the past two months, Hatch has received complaints about MPAAT from the AFL-CIO, the Minnesota Hospitality Association, a number of chambers of commerce, county and city officials, the Minnesota Taxpayers League, restaurant owners and more than 100 private citizens.

The complaints have accused the nonprofit, anti-tobacco organization of
straying from its intended purpose of helping smokers quit and instead
funding divisive campaigns to force smoking bans on entire communities.

"We have asked MPAAT to voluntarily cease financing enactment of ordinances or legislation and stick to the bread and butter of helping people to cease using tobacco products," Hatch in an interview Tuesday night.

Hatch made the request Monday to MPAAT general counsel Tom Pursell. The group was created when the state settled its suit against the tobacco
industry in 1998.

Hatch, who described his request as "unusual," said he told Pursell: "There
are people who are pretty disturbed by all this." Hatch said he also asked,
"Is it really the purpose of this nonprofit to go out and do a lot of
election contests?" . .

Hatch declined to say what he would do if MPAAT refuses to change
direction. But a group of union leaders who oppose MPAAT's methods said
they are willing to go to the Legislature to prohibit MPAAT from spending
on lobbying.

Hatch's office has the authority to review the finances of nonprofit
organizations and can take action if they are not in compliance with the
law. In this case, he also could ask Ramsey County District Court Judge
Michael Fetsch, who has jurisdiction in the case, to review the court order
that created MPAAT. . .

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce adopted a policy statement calling for close monitoring of MPAAT's grant making as well as that of the Minnesota Department of Health in order to determine their success rate.