INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indiana's share of tobacco settlement funds will drop by about $63 million next year.
 
The Indianapolis Star reports a three-judge arbitration panel last month decided to decrease Indiana's share from about $131 million a year to $68 million because it hadn't done enough to collect funds from cigarette companies that weren't part of the original settlement in 1998. The money Indiana receives from that settlement is used for programs that help people stop smoking and tries to prevent others from starting.
 
Reps. Greg Porter of Indianapolis and Charlie Brown of Gary said they learned about the ruling during a meeting with the Indiana attorney general's office and they are worried the decreased funding will hurt efforts to improve Indiana's health.