ARTICLE: Senators Who Get Money From Big Tobacco Oppose FDA Regulation

By OpenSecrets.org , Center for Responsive Politics - June 15, 2009

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Big Tobacco is closely tied to the small group of lawmakers who opposed recent legislation allowing greater FDA regulation of tobacco products and advertising methods. And last week McClatchy Newspapers cited OpenSecrets data to document these extensive connections. Here are our own observations: Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), has received more money ($359,100) since 1989 than any lawmaker but one from tobacco companies, many of which are based in his Tar Heel State Burr spearheaded ... Read the Full Article
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ARTICLE: Senators Who Get Money From Big Tobacco Oppose FDA Regulation
  • Bill Godshall
    Philip Morris is the biggest of Big Tobacco

    This article misrepresents Big Tobacco as opposing the FDA tobacco legislation.

    In fact, Altria (the biggest of Big Tobacco with 51% of the US cigarette market share) negotiated and agreed to the legislation with the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Sen. Kennedy and Rep. Waxman back in 2004 (to protect Altria's Marlboro cigarette empire from future market competition by other companies and from far less hazardous smokefree tobacco product alternatives)

    This article also failed to acknowledge that Altria has given more campaign contributions to members of Congress who voted for the Altria backed FDA tobacco legislation than all other tobacco companies combined have given to members of Congress who voted against the legislation.

    Also, Altria spent $3.6 million in the first quarter to lobby for the FDA tobacco legislation, while Reynolds spent $1.1 million in the first quarter to lobby against the legislation.

    Bill Godshall
    Smokefree Pennsylvania
    />smokefree@compuserve.com

    - Bill GodshallUS June 16, 2009 10:15AM

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