Smoking

The American Lung Association criticized the U.S. Congress and President George W. Bush for torpedoing programs intended to tighten regulation on tobacco and discourage the spread of smoking. In addition, the association also said the states have not done enough to combat cigarette smoking.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control estimates that nearly 45 million Americans smoke or about 21 percent of the population.

The report of the American Lung Association did commend the U.S. Congress for passing legislation that would have boosted the federal cigarette excise tax from the current $0.39 per pack to $1.00 per pack. President Bush, however, vetoed the measure and Congress gave no indications that it would move to override the veto.

The association said the increased tax would have induced more smokers to quit and discouraged children from starting to smoke.

The association underscored the fact that many states “have failed to make meaningful progress” towards making sure that their most vulnerable citizens are protected from the dangers of smoking. In comparison, tobacco companies continue to spend billions of dollars each year to market their deadly products.

The association also implied that some politicians may have become influenced to take the positions favored by tobacco companies as a result of heavy lobbying and substantial spending by the tobacco industry. The association recommended that the U.S. Congress delegate to the Food and Drug Administration the authority and power to regulate cigarettes.

Independent studies have revealed huge lobbying expenditures by tobacco companies. During the 2005-2006 election cycle the tobacco industry funneled nearly $3 million in contributions to political action committees for a number of candidates for the U.S. Congress. In addition, over $1.7 million was contributed directly to some federal candidates.

The association also cited another study by the Institute on Money in State Politics which showed that tobacco companies and cigarette retailers contributed more than $96 million to state-level candidates, political action committees, and ballot measure campaigns during the 2005-2006 election cycle.

The association noted that in 1998, states and tobacco companies agreed on a settlement where the states would receive $246 billion over a period of 25 years, to pay for the costs of providing health care to smoking-related illnesses. These funds have instead been used for non-tobacco related activities, such as to cover budget deficits.

While 21 states have passed comprehensive legislation on smoke-free air, more than half still have not passed laws to prohibit secondhand smoke in the workplace and other public places.

The Lung Association report also accused tobacco companies of promoting flavored cigarettes and brightly colored packaging to encourage youths and even children to begin smoking.

Safety Tips:
* Counsel your children about smoking. Those who start smoking at a very young age are more likely to develop cancers.
* Make your views heard. Ask your state legislators to ban secondhand smoke in workplaces and public places.