Are State Legislatures Responding To Public Opinion When Allocating Funds For Tobacco Control Programs?

Abstract

This study explores the factors associated with state-level allocations to tobacco-control programs. The primary research question is whether public sentiment regarding tobacco control was a significant factor in the states’ 2001 budget decisions. In addition to public opinion, several additional political and economic measures were considered. Significant associations were found between our outcome, state-level tobacco control funding per capita, and key variables of interest including public opinion, amount of tobacco settlement received, the party affiliation of the governor, the state’s smoking rate, excise tax revenue received, and whether or not the state was a major producer of tobacco. Little or no association was found between funding and other political and economic measures including the party control of each legislative house, the state’s political ideology, mean income per capita, or the state’s unemployment rate. The findings from this study support our hypothesis that states with citizens who favor more restrictive indoor air policies allocate more to tobacco control. Furthermore, states with democratic governors spend more on tobacco control compared to their republican counterparts. Effective public education to change public opinion and the cultural norms surrounding smoking may impact on political decisions and in turn increase funding for crucial public health programs.