The proposal put forth by Herberman and his colleagues suggested that the state allocate funds based on each center's level of funding from the National Cancer Institute, which would indicate the worthiness of the institution's research programs. In other words, the center that has the most NCI funds would also get the biggest piece of the state pie. Each center would decide how to dole out the money internally. He is optimistic about their chances for success, in part because portions of tobacco company settlements in Florida and Texas have been allocated for cancer research. It is recognized here, as in other parts of the country, that cancer is one of the predominant problems associated with tobacco use and it is therefore viewed as very fitting to invest a substantial portion of the money to help deal with it.
Smoking also is associated with heart disease, emphysema and stroke.
Attorney General Mike Fisher has said that the money should be used for health care initiatives, according to his spokesman Sean Connolly. Billions of dollars have been spent treating illness and the settlement will be used to prevent future expenses. The Attorney General brought the money to Pennsylvania. It's now up to the policy-makers to determine how to spend that money.