National

FDA is right agency to regulate tobacco products
Click here to view statement of Matthew L. Myers President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, regarding comments made by Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In an interview with the Associated Press, Dr. von Eschenbach expressed concern that reducing nicotine levels in cigarettes could actually harm public health if smokers change their behavior to maintain nicotine levels which, according to Myers, indicates a misunderstanding of pending legislation to grant the FDA authority over tobacco products. 

FDA chief: Don't regulate tobacco
Government regulation of tobacco could backfire by inadvertently forcing smokers to light up more and inhale more deeply, the head of the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. In an interview with The Associated Press, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach said that if the FDA reduced nicotine levels in cigarettes, people would tailor their smoking habits to maintain current levels of the addictive drug. "We could find ourselves in the conundrum of having made a decision about nicotine only to have made the public health radically worse. And that is not the position FDA is in; we approve products that enhance health, not destroy it," said von Eschenbach, a cancer surgeon. Click here for more. 

U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions: The need for FDA regulation of tobacco products
Click here to listen to the hearing or read witness testimonies from:

• Matthew Myers, President/CEO Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
• Dr. Elmer Huerta, President American Cancer Society
• Dr. Jack Henningfield, Vice President, Research and Health Policy, Pinney and Associates, and Professor of Behavioral Biology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Dr. Gregory Connolly, Professor, Harvard School of Public Health, former Director of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Tobacco Control Program
• Dr. Richard Land , President, The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
• Lisa Shames, Acting Director, Natural Resources and Environment Team, Government Accountability Office
• Dr. Alan Blum, Director, University of Alabama Center for the Study of Tobacco and Society

Kennedy wants panel to look at Louisiana tobacco settlement sale
Louisiana State Treasurer John Kennedy is calling for a committee to look at the pros and cons of selling the state’s remaining tobacco settlement. Governor Blanco’s administration is pushing to sell the remaining portion of future tobacco-settlement revenue rather than collect the money over time. Kennedy estimates that the state could be sacrificing $6.8 billion over the long run in favor of quick cash payment of close to $2 billion. The American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and the American Lung Association also want the governor to reconsider. Click here to read more.

Ohio Governor plans to shift tobacco money away from health programs
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland is willing to take a $5 billion upfront payment from Ohio’s share of the Master Settlement to fund the construction of new schools. If Ohio chose to collect the money over the scheduled 40 year installment plan, they would collect an estimated $18 billion. Ohio would be the 19th state to take a lump sum through a process called securitization. Click here to read more.

Ohio proposal would ease smoking ban
The Ohio Department of Health has proposed revised rules that would carve out exemptions to the statewide smoking ban passed on November 7th. If accepted by a legislative review panel, private clubs whose employees are also members would be exempt from the ban. The move was an abrupt turnaround for the department, as they had removed a similar exemption while drafting the law. The proposed exemptions are subject to a hearing before the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review in mid April and could take effect as early as April 30th. Click here to read more. 

Iowa State Senate gives cities, counties power to pass smoking restrictions
The Iowa Senate voted to give cities and counties the power to pass local smoking bans. The bill is in response to a 2003 Iowa Supreme Court ruling that said local governments don’t have the power to pass smoking restrictions, invalidating local bans in Iowa City and Ames. Support for the bill was divided along partisan lines, with all Democrats in favor and all Republicans opposed. Click here to read the press release.

Bill introduced in Nevada would make tobacco possession illegal for juveniles
Senate Bill 14 would make a minor possessing tobacco, or one falsely representing themselves to buy tobacco, subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court as a child in need of supervision. A child in need of supervision is a juvenile subject to offenses that wouldn’t be against the law if the person were 18 and are for lesser crimes than a child considered delinquent in juvenile court. The measure has won approval in the Senate Judiciary Committee, but is the subject of much debate. Similar legislation has been proposed in the past, but hasn’t been successful. Click here to read more.

Anti-smoking group asks U.S. National Slavery Museum to return Philip Morris donation
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids called on the U.S. National Slavery Museum to return a $200,000 donation from Philip Morris USA, saying that the company targets children “for another form of slavery.” The museum is scheduled to open in Fredericksburg next year. According to museum spokesman Matt Langan the museum has no plans to refund the donation and hopes that the donation will actually boost corporate support for the museum. Click here to read more.

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Corpse, cancer images to confront Indian smokers
Health officials in India reported that new cigarette warning labels will be required on all cigarette packs, bidis, and tins of chewing tobacco beginning in June. The graphic warning labels contain pictures of a corpse and mouth cancers. Other packs will show a toddler with tubes running up his nostrils with the caption “Your smoking kills babies.” The campaign is in response to the country’s high number of smoking related deaths, and the reported little impact of laws banning smoking in public places. Click here to read more.

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FDA & Tobacco Legislation: S. 625 and H.R. 1108
Identical, bipartisan bills -- "The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act" -- were introduced in the U.S. Senate and House on February 15, 2007, to grant the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority over tobacco products.

• S. 625: Sponsored by Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and John Cornyn (R-TX).  Click here to access the bill and track its status. 
• H.R. 1108:  Sponsored by Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Tom Davis (R-VA). Click here to access the bill and track its status. 

FDA & Tobacco Fact Sheets: Food & Drug Administration authority over tobacco
Click here to view various fact sheets developed by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids or jointly developed by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and the American Lung Association.

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