BOISE • The handlers of a state endowment to help prevent
underage smoking will pitch a request to spend $5.7 million of
Idaho Millennium Fund money in the coming fiscal year.

The Joint Millennium Fund Committee based its recommendations on
an estimated $9.1 million in available revenue. Twelve programs
requested appropriations for services related to tobacco cessation
and education, including the Idaho Supreme Court for use in youth
courts, the American Cancer Society for the Idaho Women’s Health
Check, and the American Lung Association for youth tobacco
prevention and cessation programs.

The requests, plus an ongoing $80,000 consultant fee, totaled
$7.2 million.

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter made a recommendation to spend $4.9
million from the fund in fiscal 2013.

The committee, which had previously heard testimony from program
heads, considered the requests and the governor’s recommendation
before forming its own.

After considering three alternative appropriation proposals, the
committee voted to adopt one submitted by Rep. Dennis Lake,
R-Blackfoot. Lake’s appropriation proposal totaled $5.7 million,
including $2 million for the Department of Health and Welfare and
$400,000 for public health districts.

Rep. John Rusche, D-Lewiston, had proposed an appropriation of
$6.68 million, including $3 million for the Department of Health
and Welfare. After the meeting, he expressed concern that the $2
million recommended appropriation wouldn’t be enough to fully fund
the department’s programs, which include Project Filter and
Quitnet.

“If they do it within the $2 million, I’ll be surprised, but
pleased,” Rusche said.

Lake said although the fund has more money, he didn’t want to
spend it just for the sake of spending it. “This is a conservative
outfit,” he said.

Leftover money will stay in the account. The proposal now goes
to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.