Health & Fitness
Representative Maher a Member of the Tobacco Settlement Investment Board? An Odd Dichotomy
One Who Has Failed to Act in the Interest of Public Health Talks out of Both Sides of His Mouth
An article in the 17 April 2013 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (“ Pa. Vows to Protect Its Tobacco Payment”) notes that State Representative John Maher (R-Upper Saint Clair) is a member of the Tobacco Settlement Investment Board, which oversees money which flows to the state as a part of the landmark settlement against the cigarette barons.
Maher is a smoker and was one of the unenlightened members of the General Assembly that voted against The Clean Indoor Air Act, which finally prohibited smoking in most public places as a matter of public health, given that second hand smoke is a known first class carcinogen. Therefore, I regard with irony Maher’s quote within the article, “Obviously, tobacco settlement proceeds have had an important role in advancing health care, life sciences, and non-smoking programs.”
To my knowledge, Maher has never renounced or expressed regret for his vote against public health. How many residents of the region would like to return to the days of smoke-filled restaurants, stores, and offices, given what we know now?
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Does a legislator that smokes and who sought to continue the ability to inflict his drug addiction on others have any interest in non-smoking programs and public health?
