Missouri ranks last in the nation when it comes to using its tobacco settlement proceeds to fund anti-tobacco programs, according to a report released Wednesday.

The report by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids says Missouri is spending none of its settlement money on anti-tobacco efforts. Instead, Gov. Bob Holden and lawmakers have used much of the settlement money to cover shortfalls in the state budget. Besides Missouri, the only other states cited as failing to spend any tobacco settlement money on anti-tobacco programs were Michigan, Tennessee and Washington, D.C. The report said just four states are spending enough on anti-tobacco efforts to meet the recommendations of the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those states are Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi and Maryland.

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