Control of tobacco millions may shift
Friday, March 30th, 2007
By Chris Fitzsimon
Bill would kill LEAF Foundation Jerry Allegood, Staff Writer More than half the state Senate has endorsed legislation that would abolish the Golden LEAF Foundation, which distributes millions of dollars from the state’s settlement with tobacco companies.
The legislation, introduced Monday by Sen. Clark Jenkins, D-Edgecombe, would direct money now disbursed by Golden LEAF into a trust fund to benefit "tobacco-dependent communities." That money — now about $600 million — would be distributed by the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, a private not-for-profit organization that works with rural areas.
Jenkins said the legislation was prompted by complaints that Golden LEAF was not doing enough to help counties hurt by the loss of tobacco production. He said many projects were approved in areas, including western counties, that did not rely on tobacco. (more…)
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