Letter: Lawmakers can help win the fight against cancer

To the Editor:

How can a budget fight cancer? In many ways.

Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget proposal released this week contains several major components on both sides of the equation that will help reduce and prevent cancer in future generations. Increasing the price of tobacco not only reduces smoking, but also helps prevent kids from starting.

The science is so strong, we can even predict the number of children who won’t start as a result of a 94 cent per pack increase (more than 22,000) and the five-year health care Medicaid costs savings to the state ($3 million).

Tobacco remains the leading cause of cancer, but obesity is gaining. Investments in access to healthful foods and opportunities for an active lifestyle (Statewide Health Improvement Program, Farm to School) will help prevent cancer and other chronic diseases in future generations – saving lives and money in our state.

If Dayton’s budget is a reflection of his values, he clearly values kids.

Pam Fontem

Lake City

Tags: opinion, letters