Chapter 33 The FDA, tobacco regulation and state lawsuits

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After the U.S. Senate "killed" the tobacco bill on June 17, 1998, Dr. C. Everett Koop

issued the following press release (partial text). "Most Republican senators know that

they should be protecting children and not big tobacco, but they just couldn't make

themselves do the right thing. I have spent much of my life working to end the disease

and death caused by tobacco. What Senator Lott and his colleagues have done

today is public health malpractice, plain and simple. Ignoring the advice of every

health professional in America, they have chosen to listen only to a handful of

television ads and a lot of PAC committees." "David Kessler, commissioner of the

Food and Drug Administration, says smoking is a pediatric disease and that the FDA

should take action to protect children from tobacco addiction. He's right. I have

devoted my life to fighting for limited government, and I do not endorse new

government programs lightly. But there is a special role for government in protecting

our children from the greatest dangers in our society. One of those dangers is

tobacco...It's hard to imagine a more compelling case for government action.

Cigarette companies say such action is unnecessary because they will solve the

problem of youth smoking on their own. Hogwash. I've watched the tobacco industry

make promise after promise to avoid government oversight for the past 40 years.

With every promise, they give an inch, grudgingly, and buy enough time to hook

another generation... The time has come to rise above partisan politics on this issue.

We owe it to our children."

Wall Street Journal, August 8, 1995, p. A14 (Barry Goldwater)

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"President Clinton's approach...abandons common sense in favor of Big Government.

The President would have the Food and Drug Administration ride roughshod over

your freedom and the Constitution... Enclosed, you'll find sample letters and

envelopes pre-addressed to you officials...Tell congress to stop the President's

power-grab before it's too late!"

Letter sent out by the US Tobacco Co. to their "mailing list" with the headline

"Tell the FDA HANDS OFF Smokeless Tobacco!"

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Monday, July 24, 2000

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