Fantastic. You know, there's a part of me that thinks "hey, this is what they get for voting for Republicans like Babar" but then there's another part of me that says this kind of thing ultimately hurts all of us - the taxpayers of America. Why? Because poor kids are the most likely to start smoking, and its those poor kids that grow up to become poor smoking adults. And when they come down with cancer in 30 years, who pays the medicare and medicaid bills for them? That's right, you and me. So thank you Haley, thank you for saddling us all with more future Southern cancer cases.

hmmm.... clearly this "good old boy" got his way - redirecting funds from kids who clearly need it - these kids wouldn't happen to be of color would they? - I guess the "old ways" are alive and well

this is horrible ... how does something like this go on because of one person ... isnt there something the people of mississippi can do about this?

Absolutely disgusting. I'm appalled by this. He just lost any support that I would have ever given him.

I love the smell of compassionate conservatism in the morning!

What about the kids, Haley?

He should be required to visit every child with cancer in Mississippi.

Unfortunately, at this point, there are still far too few Mike Moores and far too many Haley Barbours in the state of Mississippi.

Charles Rangel was correct, and owes no apologies.

If kids cant smoke in Mississippi they will just chew tobacco instead. They are hippacrits anyways, with "dry" counties but your kids can smoke. I never heard any churches complain about cigarettes and until they do, nothing will get done about it

Barbour should be given a raise!
Most commenter's here have not seen the abuse of the tobacco money wasted by Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi.

How wasted? In the highest paid salaries in the nation for administrators that never even saw the program first hand. By millions handed out to just about anyone with no accountability for spending, results, or progress.

Get a copy of the Partnership for a healthy Mississippi budget. Decide for yourself.

As said above:
"Barbour has proposed a "Healthy Kids" Initiative, which would allocate the $20 million to expand the school nurse program, maintain anti-tobacco education and advertising, expand cancer research and fight against drugs."
The money in the tobacco fund is NOT being cut off. It is being put to better and audit-able sources.

this guy is an idiot and clearly on the payroll of big tobacco. he's in the pocket of big business and cares nothing of middle class voters and tax payers. well mississippi got exactly what it deserved. if they keep electing folks like this, well that's exactly what they get.

I must agree with " Xiores " on this , he should also kill the Partnership for a healthy Mississippi , and put the moneys to better use in accountabil orgs.

If we talking facts we have to look at them. Now Barbour is saying the funds aren't being accounted for and there is proof that it IS accounted for. The reason behind his abrupt cut off of funds due to his "tobacco ties" is very accurate. Wake up people and see what we have in front of us!!!! Me being originally from MS, I know and still see the amount of Crooked Business happening in MS!! Always a state behind all others because of the leadership placed in charge of the people of MS. Thanks Gov. Barbour for knocking MS back fifteen years. I'm sure you're content now!!! Pitiful.

Com on-n-n . . . He's a friend of Bush 43 . . . who could have expected either honor or integrity?

It's a crying shame that we feel that the USA is a real democracy. True, we have it better than most countries, but money speaks louder than common morality in some places. I'm glad I live in California. We have our own oddities, but at least most of them aren't as blatantly biased as this.

Shame on Mississippi. No wonder you come in last in almost every quality of life issue of all 50 states. You get what you vote for. Too bad your educational system is the worst--you're paying for it now. "Keep the masses ignorant" seems to be your politicians' plan; unfortunately, it appears to be working. Wake up!

If it wasn't for MS, Arkansas would be last in everything. A proud tradition Gov. Barbour seems willing to continue.

There are worse things than smoking. I think everybody already knows it's bad for your health so why spend so much money on anti-smoking campaigns.

The ex-AG Mike Moore and his cronies were making a fortune administering this fund. Still its no excuse. Barbour's policies have put Mississippi back 20 yrs. He definetly a one term governor!

while we're at it, lets legalize and tax marijuana. Proven to benefit health in many ways both physical and emotional, loved and used by a LARGE segment of the public, pot is much healthier than tobacco. Of course, it also feels good, so the warped masochistic mindset of the "Christian right" (an oxymoron if ever there was one)cannot accept it.

Gov. Barbour i am with you all the way. mike moore has give away too much money. it need to be took away

They deserve the leader they got. They voted for him, so I say let them choke till the end of his term.

Who would vote for someone so ethically challenged as a tobacco lobbyist in the first place?

You reap what you sow...