Sen. Marvin Singleton, R-Seneca and chairman of the public health and welfare committee, laughed at the suggestion that the legislature would pass a tobacco tax increase when it reconvenes in January.
Sen. Marvin Singleton, R-Seneca, said the legislature's constant involvement in local St. Louis politics is a distraction from more important business.
"It does seem a little silly every time the policemen and firemen of the city of St. Louis want a pay raise that the Missouri Legislature votes on it," says Sen. Marvin Singleton, R-Seneca, "Nowhere else in the state of Missouri does that occur."
Sen. Marvin Singleton, R-Seneca, said he thinks Republicans will likely stay in control of the chamber and even have a good chance to emerge with a three- or four-seat lead. The worst-case scenario, he said, had Republicans winning four of the six seats that are in play.
Sen. Marvin Singleton, R-Seneca, said the legislature's constant involvement in local St. Louis politics is a distraction from more important business.
Sen. Marvin Singleton, R-Seneca and chairman of the public health and welfare committee, said it's important any increased tobacco revenues be used for health care and not the state's current budget shortfall. He said the state's share of the tobacco settlement money had not been used for its intended purpose, and that the cigarette tax increase could make up for that loss.
Marvin Singleton, R-Seneca, a physician in the state Senate, said the Red Cross is likely trying to "restore some of the confidence that the American public does have in them."
Sen. Marvin Singleton, R-Seneca, said the state should be spending the money to treat diseases, fund medical research and keep teen-agers from smoking. Singleton, who is a doctor, said it's hard for lawmakers to resist grabbing a "pot of gold."
The bill, sponsored by the Senate's only physican -- Marvin Singleton, R-Joplin -- said it would lead to greater assurance that patients would not be forced to drop their physicans when HMO plans change each year.
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