Thompson Confirmation Hearings Resources

Presented by:
SmokeFree Pennsylvania, Wisconsin Initiative on Smoking and Health (WISH) and Tobacco BBS

January 16, 2001

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RESOURCE ARTICLES:

01/01/23 Thompson has stock in firms he would regulate Milwaukee (WI) Journal Sentinel

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."

01/01/23 Ethics advisers say Thompson must sell stocks AP

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."

"Thompson links to Philip Morris may be issue" -- , January 10, 2001 Milwaukee (WI) Journal Sentinel disclosing Thompson's receipt of $72,000 from PM. This item contains links to previous articles, as well as supporting documents.

Tobacco Industry Political Activity and Tobacco Control Policy Making in Wisconsin: 1983-1998 The June, 1998 UCSF study

Thompson received tobacco money Daniel Bice and Amy Rinard, Milwaukee (WI) Journal Sentinel, Nov. 28, 1996

Thompson travels to other countries at Philip Morris' expense Steve Schultze and Daniel Bice, Milwaukee (WI) Journal Sentinel, August 7, 1997

Tommy Thompson and Tobacco (a policy review) Bill Lueders, Isthmus, Nov. 28, 1997

Philip Morris helped fund trips Milwaukee J-S exposing Thompson's trips abroad. Steve Schultze and Daniel Bice, Milwaukee (WI) Journal Sentinel July 30, 1997

Thompson seeks checks on travel Milwaukee J-S article exposing more of Thompson's trips Steve Schultze and Daniel Bice, Milwaukee (WI) Journal Sentinel August 1, 1997

Free Thompson trips have risen sharply MJS article exposing even more of Thompson's trips. Steve Schultze and Daniel Bice, Milwaukee (WI) Journal Sentinel August 7, 1997

Thompson makes 12 calls to Philip Morris 12/95 - 6/97 "Call records show low-profile names" Daniel Bice and Steve Schultze, Milwaukee (WI) Journal Sentinel, Nov. 5, 1997

Phone log including 10 calls to Whist at Philip Morris 1995-1997. Daniel Bice and Steve Schultze, Milwaukee (WI) Journal Sentinel, Nov. 5, 1997

RESOURCE "SECRET" DOCUMENTS:

Tommy Thompson - Tobacco Industry Friend Anne Landman's Document Timeline, 1988-98, focusing on the relationship between the Washington Legal Foundation, Philip Morris, and Thompson.

1988 Whist memo to PM Board "In New York, we continued our successful political contact program through the America-European Community Association (AECIA) and The New York Society for International Affairs. AECIA was equally active in London, Paris and Amsterdam, and will continue to expand in other European countries..."

Jan, 1989 Boca Raton plan mentioning Andrew Whist

1994 PM Document saying that PM raised money for Thompson

12/26/95 Thompson thank you letter to Whist at AECA for Africa trip

7/8/96 Thompson thank you letter to Lenzi at Philip Morris for Australia trip

Return To: Thompson and Tobacco Page

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

This document's URL is: http://www.tobacco.org/News/tommyresources.html

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