Tobacco trust money spared from ice war

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

The House Finance Committee likely will refrain from using tobacco trust money for programs to fight crystal methamphetamine, or ice, and is looking at mostly state general money to pay for such initiatives, committee chairman Dwight Takamine said yesterday.

The committee yesterday deferred decision-making until today on a measure that calls for an additional $21.6 million to expand drug prevention, treatment and intervention services. House Bill 2004 resulted from a joint House-Senate task force on the drug that held statewide hearings before the session.

"We're committed to moving the measure forward, and we're committed to taking a comprehensive approach and look at funding prevention aspects as well as treatment aspects, along with enforcement," said Takamine, D-1st (N. Hilo, Hamakua, N. Kohala). "I think you'll see when we make decisions tomorrow that it will be substantially funded."

Takamine would not specify the amount he would recommend, but said "it will be close to" the $21.6 million sought by the task force. He said it would come "primarily" from the general fund, but declined to give details until he could discuss the matter further with committee members.

Meanwhile, the committee deferred a measure that would reallocate half of the money directed to the Hawai'i Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund to ice abuse treatment and prevention programs. Money in the trust fund helps pay for programs aimed at preventing and reducing tobacco use.

Anti-tobacco groups opposed House Bill 2843, which would dedicate half of the trust fund's approximate $5 million allocation for drug prevention and treatment. They said it would hurt efforts to reduce smoking and urged lawmakers to look at other sources for anti-drug initiatives.

Takamine said the lawmakers would not consider such a move again. "It's likely that in light of the testimony, the bill will not return to the committee," Takamine said.

The Finance Committee also passed a measure that would earmark the scheduled half-cent increase in the tobacco tax that takes effect July 1 for ice prevention and treatment. State tax officials said that would divert $6.1 million in tobacco tax revenues from the state general fund to the ice treatment and prevention special fund.

Today the Senate Ways and Means Committee will consider a similar bill, Senate Bill 3235, that would increase the tobacco tax by another half-cent, to 7.5 cents. The measure calls for one cent to be deposited into an ice treatment and prevention special fund.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.