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Although Thompson is scheduled to be confirmed today by the U.S. Senate, he will not begin his federal job until he gives his final State of the State message to the Wisconsin Legislature on Jan. 31, Keane added. . . Thompson disclosed owning . . . between $15,000 and $50,000 worth of stock in Philip Morris . . . Because Steil hired a professional financial manager to buy and sell stocks on behalf of the governor's blind trust, Keane said Thompson "didn't know" that he owned Philip Morris, Merck and Abbott Labs stock until he reviewed the federal financial report, Keane said. . . Asked if Thompson was embarrassed as owning stocks in industries he will regulate as Health and Human Services secretary, Keane said Philip Morris is Wisconsin's "fourth-largest employer, (with) 7,300 jobs and $1.5 billion annual economic impact in the state." "Philip Morris is Miller (Brewing Co.), Oscar Mayer, Kraft (Foods) and Tombstone (pizza)," Keane added. "Those are good Wisconsin companies that provide strong, good-paying jobs to people."

Federal ethics monitors have advised Gov. Tommy Thompson to sell his stocks in major tobacco, food, beer and health care companies if he is approved as U.S. Health and Human Services Department secretary. Regulators said Thompson's holdings in Philip Morris Co., Merck & Co. and Abbott Laboratories could be a possible conflict of interest as he could be required to regulate them, Thompson's aide Kevin Keane said Monday. Keane said Thompson agreed to sell all disputed stocks. Thompson signed a financial disclosure last week as part of his nomination. It was the most detailed summary of Thompson's financial holdings in years. . . The disclosure showed Thompson owns between $15, 000 and $50, 000 worth of stock in Philip Morris, the beer, tobacco and food giant that is one of Wisconsin's largest employers. . . Bonnie Sumner, president of the Wisconsin Initiative on Smoking and Health, said Philip Morris stock has risen in value since President Bush's election and the appointments of cabinet secretaries like Thompson, who will be " very nice and very friendly to the tobacco industry."

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This fact sheet presented by:

SmokeFree Pennsylvania
n P.O. Box 81570 n Pittsburgh, PA 15217 n 412-421-0500 n FAX 351-5881n Bill Godshall Executive Director n bill@smokescreen.org

Wisconsin Initiative on Smoking and Health (WISH)
n 2900 W. Rangeline Court n Mequon, WI 53092 n 262-512-0672 n FAX 512-0673n Bonnie Sumner President n bonch1545@aol.com

Tobacco BBS
n P.O. Box 359 n New York, NY 10014 n 212-982-4645 n Gene Borio ngeneb@tobacco.org