Will the Master Settlement Agreement Achieve a Lasting Legacy?

Abstract

This article outlines the mission and activities of the American Legacy Foundation (Legacy)—the public charity created by the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between 46 states attorneys general and the tobacco industry. Payments to Legacy are made by the 46 settling states. Legacy has achieved much in its short 5-year tenure and has faced and continues to face challenges. These include the “sunset” clause of the MSA that may terminate payments to Legacy’s public education fund—the source of funds for most of Legacy’s public education campaigns and grant making, a unique set of MSA provisions intended to rein in the activities of Legacy and rising public expectations in the context of sharply reduced resources. The inextricable link between Legacy, state tobacco control, and the politics of tobacco are discussed.