Years in the Making, Senate Votes to Give FDA Power to Regulate Tobacco
Jump to full article: ABC News, 2009-06-11
Author: Z. BYRON WOLF and KATE BARRETT
Intro: Watch "World News With Charles Gibson" tonight at 6:30 ET for the full report. . . .
It's a huge move that's been a long time coming.
"We have tried for ten years and we have failed," said Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., in a speech on the Senate floor earlier this month when the Senate voted to break a filibuster and consider the legislation. "Think what kind of a difference we could have made. How many lives we would have saved if we passed this ten years ago." . ..
Big tobacco has already been readying itself for a tougher U.S. regulatory environment by expanding its overseas marketing and developing new smokeless products.
Not surprisingly, most of the tobacco industry has opposed the bill. But there are also major exceptions to that rule. The giant Altria, parent company of Philip Morris, has taken an "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" approach and supports the measure, though some complain they've managed to water down the bill.
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