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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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House Hits Big Tobacco; Senate Battle Up Next

Advocates and enemies of big tobacco brace for Senate battle

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(Newser) – The House today agreed to give the FDA broad new powers over tobacco products, the New York Times reports. The House voted 298-to-112 to pass the bill, but the real fight will come in the Senate, where one North Carolina Republican has already threatened a filibuster. Ted Kennedy plans to introduce the measure this month. Among other things, it allows the FDA to clamp down on advertising and force manufacturers to reduce the amount of nicotine in cigarettes.

“We’ve come to what I hope will be an historic occasion, and that is finally doing something about the harm that tobacco does to thousands and thousands of Americans who die each year, and stopping the attempt to get our children to smoke,” said Harry Waxman, a main sponsor of the legislation. President Obama supports the bill.

Ted Kennedy will introduce the measure later this month in the Senate, where its fate is uncertain.
Ted Kennedy will introduce the measure later this month in the Senate, where its fate is uncertain.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)
Rep. Harry Waxman, D-Calif., says the legislation marks an
Rep. Harry Waxman, D-Calif., says the legislation marks an "historic occasion."   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
A smoker takes a drag.
A smoker takes a drag.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
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TerrifiedCitizen
Apr 2, 09 7:27 PM CDT
I experimented shortly after the last presidential election and compared a map of the Confederacy at the time of the U.S. civil war with the states today who voted republican... remarkably very little change. So it's not surprising to me that the GOP votes in favor of big business (plantations) or in opposition to control over tobacco (plantations). Maybe it sounds far-fetched, but the map comparison was eerie. Reply
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cornelison
Apr 3, 09 12:15 AM CDT
Tobacco kills. I'm allergic to smoke - all smoke. Can't breathe. The longer it takes a smoker to die, the more expensive it is to health care costs. It would help expenses if smokers died faster. Sounds cold, but that's a fact. Reply
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Mr.C
Apr 4, 09 12:08 PM CDT
The tobacco companies should have been squashed after appearing before congress and saying that they did not believe nicotine was addictive. Reply
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