Plate would raise funds for breast cancer

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Disagreement between two of the lawmakers on how to spend the money kept the license-plate legislation from passing last year. All three say they are more hopeful this year.

Breast cancer survivor Kathy Rice of Powdersville said she has a message for the three: "Don't screw up and let it get dropped again."

The plate proposal is significant for those fighting the disease because the money could help screening, education or research efforts in the state.

The Greenville News reported in September that black women in the Upstate are dying of breast cancer at a much higher rate than blacks statewide and throughout the country.

Lawmakers, however, haven't used the $1 billion tobacco settlement on screening or prevention for breast or cervical cancer, The News reported.

The state now spends about $3.3 million annually on breast and cervical cancer prevention and screening, money from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Only low-income women between the ages of 47-64 are eligible for screenings under the program, known as the Best Chance Network.

Gov. Mark Sanford has asked lawmakers to spend $1 million in next year's budget on breast cancer treatment. The money was included in the House version of the budget passed last week.

Sen. Linda Short, a Chester Democrat, has proposed a bill that would spend the net revenues from the license plates on Best Chance.

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, an Orangeburg Democrat, proposes splitting the money between Best Chance and the South Carolina chapter of the American Cancer Society, with 75 percent spent on the Cancer Society.

And Rep. Bobby Harrell, a Charleston Republican who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, proposes sending any money collected to the Medical University of South Carolina, located in Charleston.

"I think it's less important exactly where the money goes than it is to send the message that this is an important issue," Harrell said.

However, Mary Lynn Faunda Donovan, president of the Upstate affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, said it is important where the money goes. She said her organization favors spending it all on Best Chance because the state currently does not spend anything on screenings, which are needed.

"The most direct impact we are going to have is screening women," she said. "When we allocate our dollars, the first place we put our money is to pay for that screening, because we know that is the way to diagnose women early."

Harrell said he thinks something will pass this year because the bills were filed early in the session, unlike last year.

"I'd love for it to be my bill, but frankly it's more important that it get done," he said.

Rep. Brenda Lee, a Spartanburg Democrat, said while all three bills are good ideas, she favors the proposal of spending the money on the Best Chance Network.

"I just think it should be community-driven," she said.

Cobb-Hunter said she believes strongly that the money should be split. Her bill would require that the Cancer Society spend its share on three breast cancer programs: Tell a Friend, Reach to Recovery and Look Good, Feel Better.

Donovan said she's familiar with the programs, which are educational.

"Education is also important," she said. "But if we have a choice of where to put the money, you are more assured that you're going to create a benefit to a woman by providing a mammogram, then providing education. The Best Chance Network is only reaching approximately 22 percent of the eligible women. So that seems to be the first place to start."

Short said she fears the same thing could happen as last year if no agreement is reached. She said she likes the Cancer Society and has donated to them but feels the money would be better spent with the Best Chance Network.

"My purpose is to try and get some help to some women who otherwise might not have it," she said. "I'm still hopeful that we end up with something and we'll find a way to make it serve the best purpose, whatever that is. I don't think that's going to MUSC, though."

Rice said all three are good bills, but she prefers spending the money on screenings.

"I would like to see us be able to prevent it," she said. "I'm sure the American Cancer Society and MUSC would probably use it for research to prevent it. But we need more young girls to be covered with mammograms. I've seen too many die with this disease. We need to do something to stop it."