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Big Tobacco Suffers Big Setbacks in DC

Despite massive lobbying, regulation looks likely to pass

By Gabriel Winant,  Newser User

Posted Apr 14, 2009 10:23 AM CDT
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(Newser) – After years of winning its fights in Washington, Big Tobacco is steeling itself for a major defeat: Not only did Congress pass an excise tax hike of 62 cents a pack of cigarettes, which went into effect this week, but the House voted overwhelmingly to submit the industry to FDA regulation. That measure died in the Senate last year on the threat of a Bush veto, but President Obama co-sponsored the bill as a senator.

Tobacco's influence is waning, Politico reports, despite $30 million spent on lobbying last year alone, not only because of the Democratic majority in Washington but because of budgetary pressure and momentum behind curbing health care costs. “Tobacco use is a major factor driving the increasing costs of health care in the US," Obama's budget office notes. And while the industry was unanimously opposed to the tax hike, Phillip Morris' parent company Altria—by far the biggest player—has endorsed regulation, leaving “Little Tobacco” to fend for itself.

A man smokes a Marlboro cigarette in Mountain View, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008.
A man smokes a Marlboro cigarette in Mountain View, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
In this Oct. 24, 2006 file photo, cigarette products of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, part of Reynolds American, are shown on the counter of a beverage store in Creamery, Pa.
In this Oct. 24, 2006 file photo, cigarette products of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, part of Reynolds American, are shown on the counter of a beverage store in Creamery, Pa.   (AP Photo/George Widman, file)
Tobacco farmer Fred Wetherington checks tobacco plants for tobacco bud worm at his family farm in Hahira, Ga., Tuesday, May 13, 2008.
Tobacco farmer Fred Wetherington checks tobacco plants for tobacco bud worm at his family farm in Hahira, Ga., Tuesday, May 13, 2008.   (AP Photo/Ric Feld)
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Reducing the number of organizations with power that oppose the legislation does smooth its path. - Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids President Matthew Myers, on Altria

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Newser001
Apr 15, 2009 7:14 AM CDT
Tobacco companies should be charged with mass murder; analogous to Nazi gas chambers. If you smoke, cigarettes should be prescribed by a physicians only, regulated by the FDA (nicotine reduced by 99%), sold at pharmacies ONLY - no more retail. Eventually, smoking will wane over decades and eventually will become a thing of the past...
Mad
Apr 14, 2009 6:54 AM CDT
1000 Americans WILL DIE tonight secondary to tobacco use. That's almost one a minute, around the clock, now and forever
northeast
Apr 14, 2009 5:52 AM CDT
By that logic, we should be banning cigarettes altogether. What about the fast food industry? Don't their products cause similar harm? No, personal responsibility is the key here; if you know it can kill you, don't smoke. The government shouldn't attempt to manipulate behavior through taxes.

States didn't live up to their prevention spending promises
WCVB Boston

 
FDA • North Carolina • Virginia • Phillip Morris • Altria • tobacco companies • cigarette tax • Big Tobacco

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