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An Open Letter to Mr. Michael E. Szymanczyk, Chairman & CEO, The Altria Group

Mr. Michael E. Szymanczyk Chairman & CEO The Altria Group 6601 West Broad Street Richmond, VA 23230 Dear Mr. Szymanczyk, I am writing in regard to the possible return of $708,000 from your subsidiary, Kraft General Foods, to the State of Delaware. No, I'm not kidding. Last week, Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner announced the award of this grant to help expand your plant in Dover, a project to which (as I understand it) Altria has already committed some $40 million. We appreciate the expansion of this plant, along with the forty new jobs it will create; like Governor Minner, I also enjoy Crystal Light Peach Iced Tea mix. But as a parent of school-age children and as a Delaware taxpayer I'm asking you to consider returning the money. Here's the situation: massive budget shortfalls in Delaware are about to result in the State having to ask each of our nineteen school districts to give back $8-10 million for the upcoming 2008-2009 academic year. This will translate in...