COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Ten years after the tobacco settlement, a national report ranks South Carolina as worst in the nation in what
it spends to keep people from smoking.

A coalition of public health groups released the report of states' tobacco prevention funding Tuesday.

The report says South Carolina will collect $114 million this year from the tobacco settlement and taxes.

South Carolina is the only state that budgeted no state money for smoking cessation and
prevention.

A federal grant will contribute $1 million.

The president for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids called South Carolina the most disappointing state in the nation when it comes to protecting kids from tobacco.

Matthew Myers also called on South Carolina legislators to raise the the state's cigarette tax.

South Carolina has the lowest cigarette tax in the nation at 7 cents a pack.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)