The Health and Human Services Committee met in September to consider oversight for the Fund for Healthy Maine, which includes tobacco settlement money of about $62 million a year. The funds are to be used for public health education and prevention programs and substance abuse education and cessation.

Maine has done very well seeing that it adheres to these principals. A proposal was presented to the Health and Human Services Committee requesting the establishment of an advisory board, which would make recommendations to the committee on how the funds should be allocated.

When asked about the cost to establish this advisory board, the committee was told the staffing and other related costs would be about $200,000 annually.

Rep. Donna Finley, Republican incumbent in House District 85, reminded the committee that last year, Dr. Dora Mills' $200,000 request for immunization for children went unfunded. Finley was able to sway the committee to vote against the proposal and further protect the funds from another level of bureaucracy, which would take money away from direct services.

The Health and Human Services Committee will recommend to the Joint Rules Committee that a joint rule be established for the 124th Legislature to provide for a review by the Health and Human Services Committee for any proposed allocation or de-allocation. This should ensure the protection of the funds and make Health and Human Services the Committee of Oversight. This is why experience matters. Let's re-elect Rep. Finley.

Sylvia Richardson

Skowhegan