Tobacco.org

• Early Wins Embolden Lobbyists for Business 

Some big GOP contributors in the tobacco industry have their sights set on scuttling a Clinton administration federal lawsuit charging the industry with "racketeering" and lying about the health risks of smoking. GOP leaders in Congress tried last fall to block the funding the Justice Department needed to pursue the suit, but they backed off after Clinton threatened to veto the appropriations bills containing the proposal.

High on business's agenda are reforms aimed at reducing companies' exposure to lawsuits and liability judgments won by trial lawyers, an important funding source for the Democratic Party. "The goal is to defund the trial lawyers," said one business representative.

For that effort, business can draw on coalitions that have been fighting for tort reform and product liability reform in state capitals and Washington. These include the Institute for Legal Reform, a U.S. Chamber of Commerce offshoot; the Product Liability Alliance; the Civil Justice Reform Group, which represents general counsels of Fortune 100 companies; the American Tort Reform Association; and Citizens for a Sound Economy. [This graph only]

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