Anne Landman's Collection
Government Affairs Objectives
Abstract
This 1996 Philip Morris Corporate Affairs (PM) document discusses strategies the cigarette company uses to stop local public health activity and control state legislatures on tobacco issues. The report shows that PM considers California a "bellweather state" which "continues to require cutting edge techniques" to thwart public health efforts. PM learned early lessons in California about forming a comprehensive strategy to "combat the antis" on local smoking bans. [Page 55]
According to this document, PM employs its comprehensive strategy to fight the "antis" (public health advocates and authorities) in states that have a high amount of local tobacco control activity: In the legislature, PM's strategy is to "Put antis on the Defensive" by introducing multiple bills (like Indoor Air Quality Standards, and "restaurant bills" introduced by local restaurant associations). At the local level, PM "introduces Accommodation in a friendly, small localities" to "scatter the antis resources." PM also tracks the funding and expenditures of tobacco control programs and then attacks these expenditures, framing them as "abuses." Simultaneously PM works to divert the financial resources of tobacco control programs, or, as PM says, "Reallocate [tobacco control] funds for Other Purposes Such as Youth Education."
PM seeks to hamstring charitable public health organizations by pushing for laws capping their salaries and lobbying expenditures and requiring a minimum percentage of their funds go toward research [Page 60].
The report also shows PM's interference in local activities around a smoking ban effort in Austin, Texas. PM's strategy in Austin was to "create a coalition to Kill Ordinance in One Week," and "activate PM and RJR smokers to call city council members prior to the hearing and testify at the hearing." PM also "hired a consultant to organize the Hospitality Industry." The consultant "convinced Austin Restaurant Association to oppose the ordinance and join the Texas Restaurant Association's activities."
The document also makes it clear that legislative term limits do not benefit Philip Morris because they result in "Less power for lobbyists who, pre term limits, could develop contacts and groom [legislative] members attitudes toward our issues." It also reveals that PM would not support (now former) Vermont Governor Dr. Howard Dean, currently a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination for president in the U.S. [Page 21]. PM opposed Gov. Dean because he supported a $.24 tax increase in cigarettes and he did "not support our position on modified smoking restrictions." http://tobaccodocuments.org/pm/2062905212-5259.p21-30.html#p22
This document contains a wealth of information about how PM operates to oppose public health efforts at all levels of society.
Fields
- Quotes
[From Page 46]
Strategy
Put Antis on Defensive
Introduce Multiple State Legislation Seek Local Accommodation Legislation Announce Prop 99 Abuses
• Initiative
Sue SF Based on CAL-OSHA Preemption
Activate NSA CA Chapter
[From Page 53]:
Political Environment
Term limits moving from west to east. ME & NYC just approved. More power to bureaucrats. Less power for legislative leaders. Less power for lobbyists who pre term limits could develop contacts and groom members attitude toward our issues over a long period of time.
- Company
- Philip Morris
- Author
- Corporate author, Philip Morris
- Recipient
- Corporate recipient, Philip Morris
Document Images
