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LOS ANGELES--In a split with the national party, Illinois state Democrats are taking money from a tobacco company to help underwrite costs of entertaining delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
Philip Morris--the parent of Kraft Foods, based in north suburban Glenview--is one of 17 corporate, union or political bankrollers for Illinois contingent parties.
"They offered to help participate in funding some of the activities related to the convention, and we did not turn anyone away," said Steve Brown, spokesman for Michael J. Madigan, the Illinois House speaker and chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party.
President Clinton has led an anti-tobacco crusade, and the Democratic platform has planks in it calling for increased efforts to reduce teen smoking.
The Los Angeles Host Committee is not accepting money from tobacco companies or their subsidies, and the Democratic National Committee has the same policy.
"`State parties are free to determine their own policies," said DNC spokesman Rick Hess.
Madigan, Brown and Tim Mapes, who is Madigan's top government and political aide, all said they had no idea how much money Morris was contributing.
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Barred from the official sponsor status Philip Morris enjoyed at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, cigarette makers have joined other corporate sponsors who have given undisclosed and unregulated gifts to fund private parties for lawmakers at the Democrats' quadrennial convention.
"It doesn't seem to have altered the way we're doing business here," Philip Morris spokeswoman Peggy Roberts said.
Because the hundreds of parties and fund-raisers that revolve around the convention are not official events, the Democrats have technically kept their promise.
The gifts of food and drink are often mingled with gifts that require disclosure. Give a House member a check and it must be reported to the Federal Election Commission. Host a lavishly catered event where a senator can collect hundreds of checks and no government agency needs to know who paid for the party.
It doesn't seem to have altered the way we're doing business here. Philip Morris spokeswoman Peggy Roberts, on the DNC's ban on official tobacco sponsorship in L.A. Hendren, J., <I>Big Tobacco crashes the party by funding fetes</I>
Democrats, including some prominent members of the Illinois delegation, have been among the harshest critics of the tobacco giant and other cigarette companies, but Philip Morris was among the sponsors listed on a banner that hung behind speakers at the delegation's opening breakfast on Monday. That made some of them uncomfortable. "I've made it clear to the national and state leaders if it were my decision I would take all the tobacco money out of this convention," said Sen. Dick Durbin, a well-known anti-tobacco crusader. "I think these people should be out of the picture." Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Chicago said the Philip Morris sponsorship was "not necessarily a good idea, considering the impact, the role ... that tobacco has had in misleading the American people. It looks like politicians are on the side of big tobacco, which is not right." But Illinois Democratic Party Chairman Michael Madigan pointed out that Philip Morris makes more than just cigarettes. Along with Marlboros, it also churns out Maxwell House coffee, Jell-O and other food products. Its Kraft foods division is based in Northfield, Ill.
I have not received a contribution myself from Philip Morris. I do know that they have a number of other companies other than just tobacco. They have cookies. Some of us like cookies. We would accept contributions from the cookie dimension of Philip Morris, but not necessarily the tobacco. DNC Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Chicago. ECKERT, T., <I>Philip Morris a sponsor of Illinois' delegation</I>
The policy has been informally followed since the committee began soliciting support for the $35.3-million convention that begins Aug. 14. Now, with its fund-raising goal well in sight, convention organizers are touting the policy as an example of social responsibility.
"This is unprecedented," said Noelia Rodriguez, chief executive officer of LA Convention 2000. "It's very tempting to go after every last dollar you can get, but we believe it's more important to send a message."
The message, she said, is that Los Angeles cares about the well-being of its residents, especially young people. "You can be successful without having to be in partnership with companies that some say are harmful," Rodriguez said.
On Wednesday, she called a news conference to sign an agreement titled "A Public Promise From LA Convention 2000." It states that the host committee will not solicit or accept financial contributions, sponsorships or gifts from any tobacco company or subsidiary. . .
Rodriguez said the committee declined a contribution from Kraft Foods, a subsidiary of Philip Morris Cos.
Tobacco money is not welcome by the host committee that is raising $35 million for the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles next month. Noelia Rodriguez, chief executive of the committee, yesterday signed an agreement not to accept or solicit donations from any tobacco company or its subsidiaries. This comes at a time when the committee is still $3 million to $4 million short of its fund-raising target. "We look forward to showcasing Los Angeles as the largest smoke-free city in the nation," Ms. Rodriguez said.
The host committee for the Democratic National Convention is not accepting tobacco industry funds for the $35 million meeting, an official said Wednesday.
The policy is a first for any host of a political convention and has been in place since fund raising began 15 months ago, said Noelia Rodriguez, chief operating officer of LA Convention 2000, the nonpartisan group hosting the Aug. 14-17 event at the Staples Center.
``Los Angeles is a healthy city and we focus on the well-being of our community,'' she said. ``We're going to show that we are on the cutting edge of new policies and new decisions.''
The decision follows a policy of Vice President Al Gore, the expected Democratic presidential nominee, not to take campaign funds from tobacco interests. . .
Philadelphia 2000 co-chairman David Cohen . . . declined to comment on a Los Angeles Times report that Philip Morris Cos. Inc. had donated $250,000, and said it ``is hardly just a tobacco company.'' Philip Morris subsidiaries include Kraft Foods and Miller Brewing.
Los Angeles is a healthy city and we focus on the well-being of our community. . . We're going to show that we are on the cutting edge of new policies and new decisions.Noelia Rodriguez, chief operating officer of LA Convention 2000, the nonpartisan group hosting the Aug. 14-17 Democratic National Convention at the Staples Center. The DNC is not accepting tobacco industry funds. <I>Democratic Convention Shuns Tobacco</I>