"Congress had an opportunity last summer to take action and gain control of funds from the tobacco companies. That effort failed because the tobacco companies flexed their muscle and President Clinton failed to demonstrate any leadership on the issue. As a result, the states were left to take action on their own. They did, and their effort was successful.
"If the federal government thought the case was so good, it should have been in court alongside the states. But the federal government wasn't willing to take that risk. Instead, the states were on their own, doing all the heavy lifting and bearing all the risk. It's only fair that control of the money should now remain completely in the hands of the states and away from the big spending bureaucracy in Washington. I have faith in the governors and state legislatures to do the right thing with the money. Washington doesn't always know best."