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Obama Sees 'Victory' in Passage of FDA-Tobacco Bill

By Drew Nelles,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 12, 2009 1:41 PM CDT
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(Newser) – President Obama praised the passage of a bill allowing the FDA to regulate tobacco products as “a long time coming," the Hill reports. The legislation, which sailed through the House this morning, grants the agency new power to regulate tobacco ingredients and marketing. "After a decade of opposition, all of us are about to achieve victory with this bill," said Obama, a former smoker.

The bill not only allows regulators to ban misleading cigarette ads but also mandates that advertising be in black-and-white only, forbids the production of sweet-flavored products , and permits drastic reduction of nicotine content, the Raleigh News & Observer reports. The measure also addresses a Clinton-era Supreme Court ruling that the FDA needed congressional approval to regulate tobacco.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 12, 2009, about the passage of landmark tobacco legislation.
President Barack Obama delivers remarks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 12, 2009, about the passage of landmark tobacco legislation.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Migrant workers harvest burley tobacco in Traphill, N.C.
Migrant workers harvest burley tobacco in Traphill, N.C.   (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
The US Senate voted Thursday on legislation that for the first time would give the FDA new powers to control the production and marketing of tobacco products.
The US Senate voted Thursday on legislation that for the first time would give the FDA new powers to control the production and marketing of tobacco products.   (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
A customer at the Red Key Tavern in Indianapolis lights a cigarette, Thursday, June 11, 2009. South Carolina has the lowest state sales tax on cigarettes in the country.
A customer at the Red Key Tavern in Indianapolis lights a cigarette, Thursday, June 11, 2009. South Carolina has the lowest state sales tax on cigarettes in the country.   (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
Doctor-Zaius
Jun 13, 2009 12:05 PM CDT
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
prowlerzee
Jun 13, 2009 5:46 AM CDT
"I hope smokers will be ineligible for any public health plan." You mean, including Obama?
Doctor-Zaius
Jun 13, 2009 3:02 AM CDT
They are when they're sitting next to you and blow smoke at you and never once bother to ask if it bothers you. The shit stinks. I can't wait for when they outlaw it in all public places which is coming. And I used to smoke until I got smart and quit. Make them 20 bucks a pack for all I care.

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US • Health • Politics

 
Barack Obama • health care costs • advertising • marketing • smoking • cigarettes • tobacco • regulation • Food and Drug Administration

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