U.S. Won't Ask Firms to Help Current Smokers Quit -WP (another scale back)

[Rose Siding]

The government announced yesterday that it will further scale back its demands for penalties on the tobacco industry in a landmark civil racketeering case, saying it is no longer seeking to help 45 million American smokers quit their habit.

In the surprising final day of an eight-month trial, the Justice Department's lead attorney said the government now wants tobacco companies to pay only for smoking cessation programs for an unspecified number of future smokers who may become addicted to cigarettes in the first year after the trial concludes.
...
Anti-smoking activists and industry lawyers ridiculed the government's description of its new cessation proposal. They said Justice officials seemed unable to answer basic questions about how many people it would cover, how the government would verify which smokers became addicted in the first year and who would be barred from getting help.

"In 48 hours we've heard three different plans from the government about its proposed cessation program," said PhilipMorris attorney Ted Wells. "And it's almost comical to listen to the government try to explain it."

William V. Corr, executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said the last-minute changes suggest political interference by the Bush administration to soften the blow for the tobacco companies.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/09/AR2005060902098.html

[Pirate Smile]

1. WP: U.S. Won't Ask Firms to Help Current Smokers Quit

U.S. Won't Ask Firms to Help Current Smokers Quit

By Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 10, 2005; Page A01

The government announced yesterday that it will further scale back its demands for penalties on the tobacco industry in a landmark civil racketeering case, saying it is no longer seeking to help 45 million American smokers quit their habit.

In the surprising final day of an eight-month trial, the Justice Department's lead attorney said the government now wants tobacco companies to pay only for smoking cessation programs for an unspecified number of future smokers who may become addicted to cigarettes in the first year after the trial concludes.

Justice Department officials refused to say how many people that may be, but the Department of Health and Human Services estimates that each year about 1.3 million people become daily smokers.

On Tuesday, the government stunned anti-smoking activists and some industry lawyers by requesting that tobacco companies pay $10 billion for a smoking cessation program, rather than the $130 billion a government expert had testified was necessary to aid all current smokers. Yesterday, Associate Attorney General Robert D. McCallum Jr. said the government's last-minute penalty reduction came after it concluded it could seek funds to cover cessation programs only for people who become addicted to tobacco in the near future.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/09/AR2005060902098.html

[MisterP]

2. I'm dreading 2007: live ammo on protesters, Gov. runs tobacco

company ads

[central scrutinizer]

3. both of my parents died from smoking related causes

way to catapault that culture of life, Bushco!!!

[DeepModem Mom]

4. WP, pg1: US Won't Ask Firms to Help Smokers Quit (penalties cut again!)

U.S. Won't Ask Firms to Help Current Smokers Quit

By Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 10, 2005; Page A01


The government announced yesterday that it will further scale back its demands for penalties on the tobacco industry in a landmark civil racketeering case, saying it is no longer seeking to help 45 million American smokers quit their habit.

In the surprising final day of an eight-month trial, the Justice Department's lead attorney said the government now wants tobacco companies to pay only for smoking cessation programs for an unspecified number of future smokers who may become addicted to cigarettes in the first year after the trial concludes.

Justice Department officials refused to say how many people that may be, but the Department of Health and Human Services estimates that each year about 1.3 million people become daily smokers.

On Tuesday, the government stunned anti-smoking activists and some industry lawyers by requesting that tobacco companies pay $10 billion for a smoking cessation program, rather than the $130 billion a government expert had testified was necessary to aid all current smokers. Yesterday, Associate Attorney General Robert D. McCallum Jr. said the government's last-minute penalty reduction came after it concluded it could seek funds to cover cessation programs only for people who become addicted to tobacco in the near future.

Anti-smoking activists and industry lawyers ridiculed the government's description of its new cessation proposal. They said Justice officials seemed unable to answer basic questions about how many people it would cover, how the government would verify which smokers became addicted in the first year and who would be barred from getting help....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/09/AR2005060902098.html

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Sorry I duped, Rose --

I'm in a different location, on a hopelessly antique computer, and not at my posting best!

:-(