e-mail: · PO Box 492028 · Los Angeles, CA 90049-8028
Tel. (310) 471-0303
Update as of August 6, 2000:
Bush administration would not continue the Justice Department's suit against the tobacco industry
e-mail: · PO Box 492028 · Los Angeles, CA 90049-8028
Tel. (310) 471-0303
July 17, 2000
Contact: Patrick Reynolds, President, Tobaccofree.Org
Office: (310) 471-0303
Mr. Reynolds' bio is posted at www.tobaccofree.org/bio.htm.
REPUBLICANS MAKE IT HARDER FOR
JUSTICE DEPT TO SUE BIG TOBACCO
WHO: In 1986 Patrick Reynolds became the first tobacco industry figure to speak out against the industry, after his father, R.J. Reynolds, Jr., died in 1964 from emphysema, caused by smoking his family's brands. His eldest brother, R.J. Reynolds III, also died from emphysema caused by smoking, in 1994. He founded Tobaccofree.org in 1992.
STATEMENT:
"This week the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a measure containing language forbidding federal agencies from transferring money to the Justice Department, so it can continue the Federal government's suit against the tobacco companies. Only one Republican, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., crossed party lines on an amendment to allow funding for the lawsuit.
"It's another brazen protection of Big Tobacco by Republicans, who now receive 90% of the tobacco industry's campaign contributions. This action will make it substantially harder for the DOJ to find funding for their suit.
"I believe it's unconstitutional for Congress to tamper with the judicial branch of government."
Background: Medicare and Medicaid are paid 50-50 by the States and the Feds. After the States recovered $250 billion through the Master Settlement, the Federal government filed a suit to recover its share as well.
A related AP wire story:
Senate Rejects Blocking Monuments
by Alan Fram / Associated Press Writer
AP, Wednesday, 7/19/00Excerpt:
WASHINGTON - ...GOP senators joined a fresh battle against the White House by pushing a bill through a committee that would make it harder for the Justice Department to pursue the multibillion-dollar federal lawsuit against the tobacco industry.The action came as lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol focused on spending bills for fiscal 2001, which begins Oct. 1. Just one of the 13 annual bills has so far been signed into law, and House and Senate leaders are trying to complete as many as possible before lawmakers take their August recess for the political conventions.
EXCERPT:
Meanwhile, by a single 28-0 vote, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a pair of bills: a $36.6 billion measure financing the Commerce, Justice and State departments, and a $22.5 billion bill financing energy and water projects and nuclear weapons testing.
The Commerce-Justice bill contains language forbidding federal agencies from transferring money to the Justice Department so it can continue its suit against cigarette companies. With the legal action, the government hopes to recover its costs of treating the elderly, veterans and others for tobacco-related illnesses - an effort that federal officials say will cost $20 billion a year.
Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., offered an amendment to provide the Justice Department with $20 million for the lawsuit's costs next year. It was rejected on a 14-14 tie, with only Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., crossing party lines to vote for Hollings' proposal.
Last month, the House dealt the cigarette industry a defeat on the same issue, voting to let Justice accept money from other agencies.