Scarcnet News Summaries (Advocacy Institute)
Some Senators, State Officials Vow To Fight Federal Claim To Tobacco Settlement Money
Length: pages
Abstract
At a news conference yesterday, Senators Robert Graham (D-FL) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) demanded that the federal government not attempt to seize any portion of the states' tobacco settlement money. "The settlements belong to the states," said Hutchison. The Senators were joined at the news conference by various state officials, including Attorney General Christine Gregoire of Washington state, who said the states would countersue the federal government "the first time a penny is deducted" from the states. In response to the news conference, Bruce Reed, the President's chief domestic policy adviser, said that the Administration would be amenable to setting guidelines for the states to keep the money if they use it for tobacco control programs and other public health issues.
Sources: Katharine Seelye, "Some Senators Vow Fight If US Seeks Share Of Tobacco Money," NEW YORK TIMES, January 22, 1999, p. A20; "States Gain Allies In Battle Over Tobacco-Suit Funds," WALL STREET JOURNAL, January 22, 1999, p. B5.