Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
55034118
label
Tobacco Quotes
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
55034118
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Tobacco Quotes
citationUrl
collections
Records of the Domestic Policy Council (Clinton Administration)
Tom Freedman's Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
55034118
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
otherTitles
42-t-7367475-20150274S-042-013-2017
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
7d2ac1dfb7817ece
ocrText
MEMORANDUM
TO:
BRUCE REED
ELENA KAGAN
tonnelo
ToM FREEDMAN
MARY SMITH
-quoks
CYNTHIA RICE
CYNTHIA DAILARD
FROM:
AMY BLOCK
RE:
TOBACCO COMMENTS
DATE:
APRIL 13, 1998
This list includes comments, following the McCain markup, from:
1. Representative Archer (R-TX)
2. Senator Ashcroft (R-MO)
3. Representative Bliley (R-VA)
4. Senator Breaux (D-LA)
5. Senator Chafee (R-RI)
6. Senator Conrad (D-ND)
7. Senator Dorgan (D-ND)
8. Senator Ford (D-KY)
9. House Minority Leader Gephardt (D-MO)
10. House Speaker Gingrich (R-GA)
11. Senator Gorton (R-WA)
12. Senator Graham (D-FL)
13. Senator Gregg (R-NH)
14. Senator Hollings (D-SC)
15. Senator Hutchison (R-TX)
16. Senator Kerry (D-MA)
17. Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ)
18. Senator Lott (R-MS)
19. Senator Lugar (R-IN)
20. Senator McCain (R-AZ)
21. Representative Pelosi (D-CA)
22. Senator Rockefeller (D-WV)
23. Representative Waxman (D-CA)
24. Senator Wyden (D-OR)
ADVERTISING
Rep. Bliley
The Washington Post
Representative Bliley said the McCain bill was flawed because it raised First Amendment questions about the "free
4/8/98
speech" of tobacco advertising.
The New York Times
Representative Bliley said at a news conference in Richmond on Tuesday that the Senate bill might throw some cigarette
4/9/98
manufacturers into bankruptcy. Today, he seemed to pull back a bit, saying, "I hope Congress will ultimately agree on a
tough bipartisan plan to reduce teen smoking."
The Wall Street Journal
Representative Bliley said that the industry's withdrawal is "unfortunate, but not a reason for inaction. Congressional
4/9/98
efforts to reduce underage smoking are not dead."
Tuesday, Rep. Bliley said he thought the McCain bill would force cigarette makers to seek bankruptcy-law protection.
He raised questions about provisions in the bill that restrict industry advertising and penalize tobacco companies for
failures to reduce youth smoking. How do you hold the companies responsible if an underage person illegally purchases
tobacco and consumes it?
The Washington Times
Representative Bliley rejected the industry's dismal assessment about prospects for passing a bill. "Efforts in Congress
4/9/98
to reduce teen-age smoking are not dead."
Knight Ridder
Tuesday, Bliley said, "If it's not dead, it's on life support. It's in a heap of trouble."
4/9/98
Sen. Breaux
The Richmond Times Dispatch
"Raising cigarette prices by $1.10 is not going to change smoking habits. But advertising restrictions will. Tobacco
4/2/98
companies can waive their rights, but they have to agree to it."
The Washington Post
Senator Breaux said that he has "no sympathy for the people that sell these products" but that the ad restrictions are
4/2/98
unconstitutional and can only be attained through deal-making with the industry. "We should not push them so far we
lose these very important portions of the bill."
NPR Morning Edition
"If [tobacco companies] are not part of this agreement, I am very, very concerned that we are on very shaky ground."
4/2/98
Sen. Conrad
The New York Times
Senator Conrad speculated that the strong stance taken by the cigarette companies was comparable to Br'er Rabbit's
4/9/98
pleading with his captors not to throw him in the briar patch.
The Washington Post
"Poor babies. We don't need their blessing to pass tough tobacco legislation. In many ways this is liberating -- do it
4/9/98
right, and not try to dance around their approval. They weren't going to approve of anything that was any good
anyway."
Sen. Dorgan
The Dallas Morning News
"This committee does not need the approval of the tobacco industry."
4/2/98
Rep. Gephardt
The Dallas Morning News
"If the industry walks away from their commitment of June 20th to stop tobacco marketing to children, Congress will
4/9/98
have to take even tougher measures to accomplish those goals."
Sen. Gregg
The Washington Post
"We don't need the tobacco companies at the table."
4/2/98
Sen. Hollings
The Washington Post
"Whether some up here like it or not, the tobacco companies are part of this process."
4/2/98
Sen. McCain
AP
"We have one obligation, and that is to fashion a package that would be the most effective way of preventing kids from
4/2/98
starting smoking. There are many other actions that Congress can take without the consent of the tobacco companies."
"The scenario that the tobacco companies face if they do opt out of this agreement is certainly a less-than-pleasant one."
The Dallas Morning News
"I don't think [the tobacco industry's objection to the tobacco bill] matters. They've been saying all along that they
4/2/98
couldn't support this bill... I expected a negative reaction from the tobacco industry. So if one tobacco company can't
go along, then I'm sorry."
AP
"We have one obligation and that is to fashion a package that would.. (impose) the most effective way of preventing
4/3/98
kids from starting smoking. If that is not acceptable to the tobacco companies, then we go back and find other ways to
try and prevent kids from starting smoking." McCain acknowledged the bill is not worth passing unless the industry
goes along. "If the tobacco companies opt out of it, then obviously we don't have a viable proposal."
The Chicago Tribune
"If we allowed them to veto the proposal, then we would be diverted from our primary goal in the legislation. If the
4/3/98
legislation doesn't effectively prevent kids from smoking, then the legislation isn't worth having."
The New York Times
"The public demands action, with or without the industry's support."
4/9/98
The Washington Post
"Senator McCain said Congress must go forward "with or without the industry's support," adding that "we could never
4/9/98
be placed in a position where the terms of this agreement are dictated."
The Dallas Morning News
"That ostensibly was the purpose of the so-called Tobacco Institute, which in face did the opposite -- helped encourage
4/9/98
kids to smoke," Senator McCain replied to Steven Goldstone's statement that the industry would take 'voluntary' efforts
to reduce sales to minors.
Rep. Waxman
The LA Times
"I'm optimistic we'll get legislation, since there is a great deal of public concern about the tobacco companies going
4/3/98
after our kids. What worries me is that we've got to be sure the law is a strong one that changes the way the tobacco
companies do business."
The Wall Street Journal
"The industry is simply no longer in a position to dictate to us terms of legislation."
4/3/98
The Wall Street Journal
"The only way legislation will fail is if the Republican leadership does the bidding of the tobacco industry, and I don't
4/9/98
think they're about to do that in an election year with the country watching."
Sen. Wyden
The LA Times
Senator Wyden favors tough restrictions on tobacco companies and called the CDC report "a painful reminder of the
4/3/98
marketing power of the tobacco industry and the need to pass tough, flexible legislation to keep the closest possible tabs
on their efforts."
DOCUMENT DISCLOSURE
Speaker
The New York Times
"I thought that the documents that came out that proved that the tobacco companies had tried to addict 14 year-olds and
Gingrich
4/10/98
that proved they have been lying to us for the last 40 years totally left the tobacco companies without any defense. I
don't think any serious person is going to take the tobacco claim seriously about anything for a long, long time."
Sen.
The New York Times
"Once we in Congress start reading these documents, whatever little support the industry has on Capitol Hill will
Lautenberg
4/7/98
vaporize in a puff."
The LA Times
"This disclosure of these 39,000 documents will be like 39,000 new lobbyists against the tobacco industry in
4/7/98
Washington."
Sen. Lugar
The LA Times
"The bald assertions they were making over the years that nicotine was not addictive and they weren't marketing to kids
4/9/98
were vastly untrue It's tougher and tougher for a member of Congress to be seen as making peace with the tobacco
companies."
FARMERS
Sen. Ford
The Washington Post
Senator Ford warned that even though the bill contains $28.5 billion to help ease the impact on tobacco farmers, he was
4/2/98
not satisfied. "If my farmers are not taken care of, this carpet is going to turn red."
The Richmond Times Dispatch
Senator Ford said he wouldn't support a bill that "bankrupts an industry and makes any farmer [protection] provision a
4/2/98
hollow victory for me - if there is no industry left to fund them."
The San Francisco Examiner
Senator Ford said he was "astonished at the price tag of the bill," saying it would hurt tobacco farmers and bankrupt the
4/2/98
industry."
The Washington Times
"I'm not willing to support legislation that raises taxes unnecessarily and hurts my farmers. I'm not willing to endorse
4/2/98
legislation that bankrupts the tobacco industry." But Ford voted for the bill after winning approval for amendments that
would aid tobacco farmers and make sure the FDA has no power to regulate them.
The Wall Street Journal
Tobacco legislation "must not bankrupt the industry, and it must not treat tobacco farmers as pawns in a much larger
4/10/98
game."
Sen. Lugar
The New York Times
"The Government should not support the production of tobacco, while it spends billions of dollars on tobacco-related
4/7/98
health care costs and anti-smoking campaigns. This dual course is simply contradictory and wrong, and it weakens the
Government's message to the public about the dangers of smoking."
FDA AUTHORITY
Sen.
The Houston Chronicle
Senator Hutchison voted for Senator McCain's bill and complimented his efforts, but said she had reservations about the
Hutchison
4/2/98
bill, particularly the amount of authority it gives the FDA to regulate tobacco products.
FEDERAL SHARE OF MEDICAID (CHILD CARE/CLASS SIZE)
Rep. Archer
The Dallas Morning News
Rep. Archer still wants to use the tobacco funds to pay for health-care-related tax cuts. Archer's staff is also examining
4/9/98
three other nonhealth tax cuts: eliminating the marriage penalty, expanding the 15 percent tax bracket and excluding
Sen. Gorton
The LA Times
"The committee did not say no to the White House, it did not say no to a stream of payments that bear no relation to the
4/2/98
demand for tobacco. By saying no to almost nothing, they guaranteed that the tobacco companies would say, 'We can't
settle."
"Well, we've got our pound of flesh. but there will not be effective legislation in this field until the President and the
tobacco companies sit down and reach an agreement."
Sen. Graham
The Dallas Morning News
Senator Graham said Congress could pass a law making it easier for the federal government to sue tobacco firms to
4/9/98
"recoup the billions of dollars that tobacco use has cost Medicaid, Medicare, the Department of Defense and veterans
health programs."
Sen. Hollings
The Chicago Tribune
"You can take this bill and defeat it 100 to nothing because it is very complicated and not very pleasing to everybody.
4/10/98
But, be that as it may, the money is spent. I've been up in the Budget Committee, and whether it's the Republican plan,
the White House plan, the Democratic plan or what have you, this money is spent."
Sen. McCain
The LA Times
"I really fear we could spend all day on this because everyone here has a different priority. The reality is this money will
4/2/98
be divided when there is a final negotiation between the White House and leaders of Congress."
The Washington Post
"I fear that if we get into a food fight over distribution of funds, it might derail the measure and should instead be left for
4/2/98
President Clinton and a handful of congressional leaders to work out."
CNNFN
Q: What would be your preference in terms of how to spend the money.
4/2/98
A: "My first priority, obviously, would be the issue of kids smoking. Second of all, the states need to be reimbursed for
expenses they've incurred for tobacco-related illnesses. I think a lot more money on research - both NIH and other areas
- and of course then we can get into a number of other aspects. Those are basically my priorities."
The LA Times
"There is just so much money here that would be made available, we don't have to raise taxes. In some people's view
4/9/98
it's almost painless."
The companies "are saying they can't afford our bill. Maybe they can't, but where's the credibility?"
INTERNATIONAL
Sen. Ford
The Courier-Journal
Senator Ford thinks that Senator Wyden wants very restrictive overseas provisions and said, "I think think we can roll
(Louisville, KY)
them back."
4/3/98
Sen. Ford
Time
Senators Ford and Hollings argue that America has no right to dictate to other countries and moved to strike language
Sen. Hollings
4/13/98
that would constrain exports.
Rep. Pelosi
Time
"How can we possibly say smoking is deadly for our kids but OK for foreign children?"
4/13/98
LIABILITY
Sen. Ashcroft
The New York Times
The vote was 19 to 1. The only "no" vote came from Senator Ashcroft, who argued that other industries were entitled to
4/2/98
the same annual limit on damage claims that the bill would give the tobacco companies.
The Washington Times
Senator Ashcroft sought to tie limits on tobacco lawsuits to a broader agenda of protecting charitable institutions, bio-
4/2/98
tech firms and other industries from product-liability lawsuits. "If limiting liability is OK for merchants of death, it is
better for merchants of life."
Rep. Bliley
The Washington Post
Representative Bliley said that industry opposition to the bill is intense and that he doesn't think the companies can agree
4/8/98
to it without immunity. "Well, if it's not dead, it's on life support."
Representative Bliley said that the McCain bill unfairly held companies responsible for underage smoking. "How do
you hold the companies responsible if an underage person illegally purchases tobacco and consumes it?"
Sen. Breaux
The New York Times
Senator Breaux said that his mother died of lung cancer from smoking and that he had no tobacco interests in his state.
4/2/98
But he said he worried that instead of concentrating on how to stop young people from starting to smoke, the committee
was "engaging in a rush to see who can be the hardest on tobacco."
The Washington Post
Breaux said that liability limits are the necessary trade-offs for extracting an industry concession to restrict its youth
4/4/98
advertising. He said that Clinton should protect fellow Democrats by "signaling his willingness" to grant the industry
those protections.
Speaker
The Wall Street Journal
A few hours before Senator McCain unveiled his bill, an aide noted that House Speaker Newt Gingrich had criticized
Gingrich
4/2/98
any liability protection for tobacco and had been quoted as saying he wasn't going to let President Clinton "get to the
left" of him.
Sen. Kerry
The Boston Herald
"I don't want any liability limit and I favor a faster rate of payout."
4/5/98
Senator Kerry promised to revive his amendment, defeated in committee, to prevent "sham transactions" between parent
companies and subsidiaries that "allow companies to escape liability."
Sen. Lott
The Washington Times
"I'd like to stop class-action lawsuits, period." On tobacco smoking, Lott said he takes a "libertarian" view, which is that
4/9/98
if "a person smokes, it's their choice."
Sen. McCain
Knight Ridder
'The tobacco bill that was approved in the Senate Commerce Committee by a vote of 19 to 1 was ever intended to be a
4/9/98
deal with the industry. Our mission was to pass a bill to stop kids from smoking."
Sen.
The New York Times
Senator Rockefeller said that he had been prepared to vote against the bill on the grounds that it was too soft on the
Rockefeller
4/2/98
cigarette companies. But he said he had changed his mind. "We can only do the best we're able to do."
PRICE PER PACK
Sen. Chafee
The Washington Times
Senator Chafee said Congress should respond to the industry's retreat by simply imposing higher cigarette taxes. "The
4/9/98
tobacco industry will take some hits for their announcement today. But no one ever claimed that the tobacco industry
would win the charm contest."
Sen. Ford
The Courier-Journal
Senator Ford said that the total cost of the tobacco bill should be no higher than $516 billion. If the sum goes any higher
(Louisville, KY)
or if the farmer provisions are removed, he said, "I'm out. I'm way out. I'd fight it."
4/3/98
The Washington Post
Senator Ford said he understood the "frustration shared by tobacco companies." Yesterday's announcements, he said,
4/9/98
would either "cause the legislative process to disintegrate" or "inject some needed fiscal responsibility into the debate."
Speaker
The Washington Post
Gingrich said he expected the House would reduce youth smoking "by directly raising the cost of cigarettes through the
Gingrich
4/10/98
federal government, rather than trying to have some kind of complex settlement that the tobacco companies have now
withdrawn from."
Sen. Lott
The LA Times
"If you bankrupt them, you don't get the money."
4/9/98
Sen. McCain
AP
"All the objective observers say that RJR is not telling you the truth, that RJR and the other tobacco companies can
4/3/98
remain viable (and) they're just choosing not to. There is a certain credibility problem as far as the tobacco companies
are concerned, not only with the American people, but also with the Congress."
Time
"We've got to go with the President's numbers. Otherwise, we open ourselves up to the charge that all we care about is
4/13/98
the tobacco companies."
USA Today
Even without a comprehensive settlement, McCain said Congress has an old-fashioned way to generate more revenue:
4/10/98
Raise the cigarette tax.