Tobacco Documents Online

Michigan Tobacc-o & Candy ~ % Distributors and Vendors Associatian- Inc. ~ Affiliated Orgsnization-,~lusic Operators of ,titichigan 523 WEST IONIA STREET • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933 • TELEPHONE (517) 372 • 2323 MICHAEL R. SPANIOLO WALTER P. MANER III LEGiSLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE SECRETARY GENERAL COUNSEL August 26, 1980 Governor's Citizen's Panel on Smoking and Health Department of Health Planning & Administration School of Public Health University of Michigan 109 Observatory Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Dr. Kenneth E .- Warner Project Director Dear Dr. Warner : Now that the Panel members have discussed the many proposals dealing with smoking in some detail, I feel it is time to raise some funda- mental mental questions concerning the nature and scope of the Panel's deliberation. I I I I I I In my letter to Governor Milliken - after he announced the formation of the Citizen's Panel in his State of the State message - I suggested he appoint a representative of the tobacco industry because I assumed that there would be a thorough investigation of the smoking and health ( question from the beginning of the discussion. If this type of care- ful investigation was not to be conducted, it would make it unnecessary, for a member of the tobacco industry to serve in the first place /`. But, before the Panel could undertake any such investigation, we received from you a memorandum in the form of a discussion paper, ~ addressing in s,.=ary fashion a variety of smoking and health issues. You yourself noted that "the limitations of the paper reflected the fact that it is a first draft". Moreover, your memorandum stated the paaer "will rev,uire further research". ! Unfortunately.because of sparse attendance, there has been no discussion of the memorandum by all members of the Panel at one time. Rather than~ providing a starting point for the Panel's deliberations, the factual assertions in the memorandum have been regarded as a given. Many of the statements in the memorandum concerning smoking and health are highly questionable and based upon unproven medical assumptions, dubious sociaL accounting techniques and unbalanced economic rationales. Others are simply inaccurate, yet members of the Panel have shown no inclination to undertake the kind of inquiry that is sorely needed. -241-

i I i J The decision that has been made to restrict public comment to a total of 30 minutes per meeting, prevents any constructive dialogue on issues that should be of concern to Panel members. This problem.would not be solved by doubling or tripling of the time set aside for public presentations. In the Panel's haste to consider possible policy recommendations, it-has simply overlooked, or chosen to ignore, that recommendations should be grounded on an accurate and adequate investigation of relevant facts con- cerning smoking and health. The burden of studying or presenting the facts on all sides of an issue such as this should not be left entirely in the hands of the project director. The entire committee, if it is to live up to its charge, should be willing to accept the responsibility and in fact, encourage it. The recent drafting of a proposed Michigan Clean Air Act is but one example of the proposals which will bear heavily on the Michigan business community, unions, federal, state,and local governments, and all other public areas. I am convinced that, unless the nature and scope of the Panel's delibera- tions are altered significantly to include a complete airing of the smoking and health issue, the Panel's ultimate recommendations to the Governor will represent a disservice to the citizens of the State of Michigan. - To complete the investigation.that is needed may involve some delay in the Panel's reporting to the Governor. But the alternative is to present to the Governor, in order to meet an unrealistic time schedule, policy recommendations based upon inaccurate factual assumptions. As a member of the Panel, I trust you will consider these points and I look forward to hearing from you. t~ T' !-1 ~. ~. i -ti-~ Walter P. Maner III Executive Secretary cc: Members of the Panel jJPM/b t ~ .A O -242-