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Bliley, Thomas J.

(Representative (R-Virginia), House Energy & Commerce Comm.) R-VA

Rep. Thomas J. Bliley Jr. was a United States Representative (1984-1994) (R-VA). As of 1994, the ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee; tobacco ally (U. S. News 4/18/94). Pro-tobacco industry (E. Whelan 1984). According to U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Bliley was the biggest single recipient of tobacco political action committee (PAC) contributions in Congress; Bliley has received $96,040 from tobacco PACs from January 1987 to July 1994 (LAT 9/18/94). Tom Bliley is a Congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives. He spent most of his career representing the district in which the giant Philip Morris Industrial Complex resides, earning him a nickname "The Congressman from Philip Morris". Among the press corps the quips got a little nastier. Bliley is an undertaker by trade, a perfect match for the tobacco trade, because he gains both ways - when you smoke and when gets you. (Smokescreen, pg. 195)