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• Senate Clears Way for Debate on Tobacco Regulation (Update1)  

The Senate cleared the way for a final debate in a decade-old fight over whether the $80-billion- a-year U.S. tobacco industry should be policed by drug regulators.

Lawmakers voted 61-30 to limit deliberations on a measure that would empower the Food and Drug Administration to restrict ingredients such as tar and nicotine, review all new products and expand warning labels on cigarette packages. The House passed a similar measure April 2.

Senator John McCain, an Arizona Republican, urged lawmakers to allow consideration of an amendment permitting consumers to import cheaper medicines from other countries, including those used to treat the harmful effects of smoking. Majority Leader Harry Reid objected to the proposal, saying it was off-topic and would prevent the tobacco bill from passing.

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