Tobacco Buyout Story aired: Friday, July 16, 2004
After years of trying, the Food and Drug Administration may finally be able to regulate the tobacco industry. Observers say a Senate bill passed last night has a strong chance of becoming the first law that would allow FDA regulation of the smoking industry. The bill also sets up a smoker-funded buyout of tobacco growers and for that reason it has the support of several key senators from tobacco states.
The legislation was bitterly opposed by most cigarette companies, but the giant Phillip Morris Company supported it. And to go forward, the bill most still be reconciled with a House bill passed earlier this year.
So as always, the nexus of tobacco in Washington politics is complicated. For some clarity we are joined by Andy Mollison. He's the congressional correspondent for the Cox Newspaper Bureau in Washington.
Guests:
Andy Mollison, Congressional Correspondent for the Cox Newspaper Bureau in Washington.
