Anne Landman's Collection
State Government Relations Legislative Counsel Briefing Book 1990-1991 (900000-910000).
Abstract
This lengthy (81 page) R.J. Reynolds (RJR) internal briefing manual discusses tobacco industry stands on issues such as secondhand smoke, advertising, fire-safe cigarettes, sponsorship, corporate contributions, and initiative and referenda. It also offers industry strategies on these issues. Page 68 (Bates page 5075918570) addresses the issue of fire safe cigarettes, and warns of the threats of calls for fire-safe cigarettes: "State legislation mandating 'fire safety' standards for cigarettes could dramatically alter current cigarette design, decrease sales and increase exposure to lawsuits." The "Background" section discusses the public's concern for cigarette-related fire deaths: "Proponents of 'fire safe' standards believe...the industry has a responsiblity to attempt to reduce the number of deaths resulting from fires caused by careless smoking." The strategy that follows does nothing to address these safety concerns, but instead flatly states, "Defeat all state and local 'fire safety' proposals through the TI and other available coalitions." Page 70 (Bates page 507591859) addresses the particularly chilling subject of death certificates.
RJR actually argues that including information about tobacco use on death certificates "...is contrary to sound public health policy" and puts forth the thin argument that such questions are "likely to undermine efforts to achieve national uniformity in death certificate information by scrambling rather than clarifying the national data."
Fields
- Notes
In 1989, Oregon approved allowing doctors to indicate tobacco use on death certificates. An April 1992 article in the Los Angeles Times about the law reported that about one in four deaths was related to tobacco use. The article can be seen at http://tobaccodocuments.org/pm/2501360867A.html?pattern=2501360867a#images
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- Quotes
F. DEATH CERTIFICATES
The inclusion of notations on death certificates regarding tobacco use of the decedent will result in grossly misleading data, is intended solely for the purpose of generating public sentiment adverse to the tobacco industry, and is contrary to sound public health policy.
BACKGROUND
The U. S. Standard. Certificate of Death, prepared as a model for states' use, does not include specific reference to smoking or tobacco use, but (as revised this year) directs physicians to include "other significant conditions" and references smoking as an example.
In 1988, the AMA's House of Delegates approved a resolution calling for legislation allowing physicians to list tobacco use as a "contributing cause" of death.
In 1988, three states (Washington, Oregon and Utah) revised their death certificates to include a question regarding the decedent's tobacco use. In 1989, Nebraska similarly revised its death certificate. Action in all four states was by regulatory bodies, not legislatures.
In 1990, 10 states have introduced legislation to require that tobacco use be placed on death certificates; bills have been defeated in 7 states and are pending in Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.
STRATEGY
Support the TI in monitoring and defeating all regulatory and legislative attempts to place specific tobacco use or "contribution" questions on death certificates.
INDUSTRY POSITION
The tobacco industry strongly opposes attempts to place specific tobacco use or "contribution" questions on death certificate forms, because: such questions are likely to undermine efforts to achieve national uniformity in death certificate information by scrambling rather than clarifying the national data; questions about lifestyle choices will turn death certificates into propaganda tools; if death certificates are used to target controversial lifestyle choices, other intrusive inquiries are likely to follow.
- Company
- R.J. Reynolds
- Author
- R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
- Recipient
- R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
- Region
- United States
- Type
- REPORT
- Named Person
- RJR Nabisco
- R.J. Reynolds
- Planters
- Nabisco
- TI, Tobacco Institute
- EPA,, United States Environmental Protection Agency
- Price Waterhouse
- RJR International
- List ofTobacco Manufacturers
- List of Tobacco Subsidiaries
- Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
- Bewley, L.
- Murray, J.
- Wold, K.
- Marshall, H.
- Omalley, J.
- List of State Legislative Counsel
- List of Counsel Affiliations
- NC Citizens For Business & Industry
- California Manufacturers Assn
- American Legislative Exchange Couns
- National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL)
- Legislative Leaders Foundation
- Coalition on Smoking or Health
- Partisan Allied Force
- Walt Klein & Assoc
- List ofTI Members
- List of TI State Activities Staff
- List of TI Northern Sector Staff
- List of TI Southern Sector Staff
- List of TI State Legislative Consultants
- List of TI State Consultant Affiliations
- ACLU, American Civil Liberties Union
- Coalition For Scenic Beauty
- General Services Administration
- Surgeon General
- Interagency Committee on Cigarette & Lit
- NY City Council
- Bush
- Consumer Protection Safety Commission, CPSC
- Technological Study Group
- American Medica Association (AMA)
- Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
- Congress
- Lousiana House
- Alliance For Responsible CFCPolicy
- Ad Hoc Comm
- Coalition of Northeastern Governors
- Grocery Manufacturers of America
- Flexible Packaging Assn
- Society of The Plastics Industry
- FTC, Federal Trade Commission
- R.J. Reynolds
- Subject
- Corporate strategy
- legislative activity
- Corporate philanthropy (Company giving behavior)
The giving of money to causes by a company, usually in a manner that makes the company appear altruistic to the public. Corporate philanthropy is usually done to achieve public relations or political gains.- smoking restriction
- packaging
- taxes
- Fire safe
- Ballot initiatives/referenda
- Tort reform
- secondhand smoke
- legislative activity
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