Cancer-Fighting Charity Hired Tobacco Lobbyist
A beleaguered cancer-fighting charity paid a tobacco lobbyist $5,000 a month to represent its interests in the Texas Legislature, even as it was winding down its operations and facing the wrath of lawmakers.
Jay Maguire, who represents three off-brand cigarette companies, was hired in January to represent the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Foundation, and his contract remained in force at its successor charity, the Texas Cancer Coalition, both Maguire and coalition spokesman Marc Palazzo said.
Maguire and the charity’s executive director, Jennifer Stevens, both said they saw no conflict in the arrangement. But some former board members said they were unaware of Maguire’s tobacco ties when he was hired. And amid questions about foundation expenditures from the attorney general’s office, Maguire said he willingly agreed to end his contract immediately Tuesday, about six weeks before its expiration date. He said other contractors have made similar deals.
State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, called the decision to hire Maguire “bad judgment from bad leaders” and said it was impossible to reconcile cancer-fighting efforts with cigarette company advocacy.
No comments:
Post a Comment