Tobacco Documents Online

Copyright 1993 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., All rights reserved. ' ABC NEWS SHOW: WORLD NEWS TONIGHT WITH PETER JENNINGS MARCH 17, 1993 - LENGTH: 4253 words BODY: ANNOUNCER: From ABC, this is World News Tonight with Peter Jennings. PETER JENNINGS: Good evening.We begin tonight with the formidable challenge to the First Lady of coming up with health care reform which is acceptable to the country. The White House said today that every day for the last 54 days, Mrs. Clinton has dealt with at least one individual' or group that has something to say about this enormously complicated subject. Today, some of what she and her task force f'iind~ most acceptable is beginning to take serious shape. In Washington, ABC's George Strait. GEORGE STRAIT: [HILLARY AND LOBBYISTS] Today the meeting was with Native Americans. Mrs. Clinton promised the President's health reform package will address the lack of care on reservations. [GRAPHICS] While much of the work on health care reform has been done in secret, several key aspects of what is likely to be proposed are known. To hold down runaway costs, a short-term freeze on the amount hospitals and doctors can charge patients, and a cap on what insurance companies can charge customers. [DOCTORS] Today the association representing hospitals tentatively agreed to short-term price controls, but the doctors and the insurance industry reject them, saying they are being singled out unfairly. LINDA JENCKES / HEALTH INSURANCE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA: We don't think it is going to work, to really get at the system-wide problems that exist today. GEORGE STRAIT: [GRAPHICS] To pay for the reform package, most in the task force favor increased taxes on tobacco, alcohol and handguns. [BOY GETTING BRACES] They also want to tax so-called luxury health care benefits that go beyond basic care: for example, company dental plans that cover braces. Supporters in Congress say Americans are ready for a bold plan. SENATOR JAY ROCKEFELLER: Now, the American people know the health care system has to be reformed by the government, and they want it to be dramatic, and they want it to work, and they want it to control costs. GEORGE STRAIT: [NATAL CARE WARD] The state of Oregon has a plan to control costs and provide health insurance for all citizens by rationing care for people on welfare. Prenatal care will be covered, breast reconstruction surgery will not. [CLINTON JOGGING] Mr. Clinton does not like rationing, but he will approve the plan this week to show he's willing to let states experiment with health care reform. [SU] With only 46 days left until the package is due, the pressure on the task force is beginning to show. When asked, "How's it going?" and "What are you doing?", Mrs. Clinton told reporters, "We are worrying, worrying and worrying". George Strait, ABC News, Washington.

PETER JENNINGS: More news about the tobacco industry. The tobacco industry is under assault on any number of fronts these days. The possibility of higher taxes on cigarettes to pay for health care is one example. How tobacco companies advertise their product is another. A new series of ad campaigns has drawn particular attention on Capitol Hill. Here's ABC's Bill Greenwood. BILL GREENWOOD: [KIDS SMOKING] Federal health officials say 3,000 American youngsters start smoking every day, and' critics say many are being hooked by the new ad campaigns. [ADS] The tobacco companies offer free prizes to people who mail in proofs of purchase. like the label on a cigarette pack. [HARKIN PC] An aide to Iowa's Senator Tom Harkin modeled beachwear awarded by Camel. SENATOR TOM HARKINt How many cigarettes does it take to get this whole outfit? AIDE: Several thousand. SENATOR TOM HARKIN: Yeah. Several thousand. For several thousand cigarettes you can be dressed just like this and go to the beach and leave Camel tracks all over. BILL GREENWOOD: Such promotions are part of a four billion dollar a year adverti1ing campaign that is tax deductible. [CU CIGARETTE] All companies can take a deduction for advertising, but senators today introduced legislation to reduce the tax break for tobacco companies by 50 percent, because their product is hazardous. The American Civil Liberties Union promised to fight the effort. ROBERT PECK / ACLU LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL: The ACLU' opposes this proposal,, because we believe that this is an infringemenrof the First Amendment. BILL GREENWOOD: [SU] Senators agree that cigarette companies have a right to free speech. but New Jersey's Bill Bradley says that does not give the tobacco industry a constitutional right to tax subsidies for pushing products that endanger people's health. Bill Greenwood, ABC News, Capitol Hill.