Tobacco industry strategies to attacks tobacco control efforts in Minnesota (MN)
| Strategy | MN plan for non-smoking and health–public education campaign | ASSIST | MPAAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diversion of issues | Shift the arguments from health to economics and government interventions and claim that the interventions are not rooted in scientific evidence | Use FOIA to obtain ASSIST grantee documents to search for use of funds not within guidelines of ASSIST | Claim that MPAAT is not being held accountable and has abandoned its guiding principles |
| Use of third party allies | MN Grocers Associations, Teamsters Union, AFSCME, community groups, and tobacco wholesalers and retailers | MN Grocers Association and tobacco wholesalers and retailers | Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN AFL-CIO, MN Hospitality Association, local chambers of commerce, MN Taxpayers League |
| Misuse of funds | Claim bias and conflict of interest in the review of ASSIST grant applicants | Claim that MPAAT was using funds for enacting local ordinances rather than helping people quit smoking | |
| Political expenditures | Campaign contributions to key officials and use of lobbyists to stimulate procedural fights | Contributions to third party allies, including the MN Grocers Association | Campaign contributions to Attorney General Michael Hatch |