Mr. Heller,

I totally agree with you, regarding Englers mis-use of tobacco monies & his continuing efforts to ease the financial burdens of those not in need.

He's a bad guy & a lousy governor. He does not represent the economically, physically or mentally disabled, in Michigan.

XXXXX
Clarkston, MI

September 30, 1999

Dear Mr. Heller,

After reading your editorial concerning "Misdirected money" I feel compelled to write to you. I agree 100% with everything you said. It makes me very angry that the money from the states $8.5-billion share of a national lawsuit settlement with the tobacco companies is used for merit scholarships. This settlement came about because tobacco injured the health of so many people and in some cases tobacco was the direct cause of their death. And now that money is given to some students who can well afford to pay for the college education. They can to go college regardless if they receive that money or not.

Who makes these decisions? Who fought for that money to go toward a reward for being academically talented.

Why wasn't that money used for health issues since that is why and how it was received.

I have become more aware of the injustices on how monies are approiated by the state. My son fell victim to schizophrenia 5 years, at age 30, after living a normal, healthy life. Now he is on SSDI. Thank God for that. Have you ever checked into just how much money these people have left to live on. It would break your heart. Why couldn't this money go towards the Mental Health system which is so short-handed with social workers and their pay isn't near enough. Hospitals aren't allowed to keep patients more than 3 weeks (just enough time to get them on medication). This is a cruel illness of the brain and it is still being swept under the rug by powers to be. It seems like once a month now I read something in the paper about someone being hurt or shot by a person with a mental illness, namely schizophrenia.

I could go on and on and talk about the mental health system and what it lacks. Just think $8.5-billion could have improved some of these problems. Instead it wil go to some kids who will not even appreciate how and why they got it. To some it will even be forgotten.

Sincerely,

XXXXXX
Marion, MI

September 30, 1999

Dear Mr. Heller:

I write to you after reading your comments in today's edition of the Detroit Free Press. I am greatly encouraged that a member of higher academia has recognized that there are immense problems with the way the tobacco settlement money will be distributed. I am not sure if you are aware of it, but Bob Talbert took a similar stand a number of months ago in his column.

I must offer one correction - your article cites the estimated cost of the Merit Award Scholarship program at $100 million which is unfortunately a gross understatement. The Republican plan establishes the total cost to be 75% of an estimated $330 million per year for the life of this settlement.

I have a vast interest in the way this "windfall" is to be used. Not only have I been appointed to serve on the Democratic National Tobacco Settlement Task Force but I have held public hearings in my district regarding the use of these funds and would be pleased to share the results of that meeting as well as any other information you may be interested in obtaining.

Very truly yours,

William J. O'Neill
State Representative, District 24
Lansing, MI

[Letter to the Editor of the Detroit Free Press]

To the Editor:

I read with disgust Donald Heller's Sept. 30 op-ed column, "Misdirected Money: Merit scholarships take resources from have-nots." Heller criticized the Michigan Merit Award Scholarship program because students fro middle- and upper-class families will receive scholarships as well as those from low-income families.

"Merit" means earned. As a middle-income single father, I am proud of my daughter for achieving good-enough scores on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program test to qualify her for the merit scholarshp. Her efforts are diminished by Heller's labeling of the scholarship as "welfare for the wealthy."

This scholarship is one of the few public programs that encourages hard work from all academic classes. If students from less affluence school systems are having trouble qualifying for merit scholarships, then address the problems in those schools.

Disqualifying good students from earned scholarships because of parental income is a slap in the face to every student prideful enough to pursue academic excellence. My admiration and sympahty go out to all needy students who excel academically and yet are recognized only as those feeding off the system.

Gary M. Abbott
Quincy, MI