Previous Story
NMI gets over $.5M in tobacco payments
|
Posted on Apr 25 2005
The Commonwealth received more than half a million dollars in annual payments this year from a settlement with the tobacco industry known as the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, according to a statement from the Attorney General’s Office issued yesterday.
The money, paid to the Commonwealth Treasury over the past week, stems from the landmark settlement reached with the tobacco industry in November 1998. Since the inception of the Master Settlement Agreement, the Commonwealth has received several million dollars from tobacco manufacturers. Public Law 13-37 mandates that the money be used for tobacco related education and prevention programs. Monies received from this settlement are deposited into a special fund for disbursement to the Department of Public Health, the Public School System, and the Mayors’ Offices of Rota and Tinian.
“Our office is pleased with the payments received this year,” said attorney general Pam Brown. “Over 98 percent of the money we expected to collect was collected. We also intend to pursue those companies that did not fully remit payment, so that hopefully this amount will increase.” (PR)
