"[P]eople acting in a group can accomplish things which no individual acting alone could even hope to bring about." - FDR

News & Analysis | REG•WATCH Blog | Press Room

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

For Tobacco Regulation Bill, Time Is Running out

CQPolitics.com is reporting that a widely-supported bill intended to reign in the tobacco industry will fail in the 110th Congress. The legislation would give the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate cigarettes and other tobacco products. Currently, those products are among the few on the market subject to virtually no federal oversight.

The House version of the bill, H.R. 1108, passed with overwhelming support: 326-102. But Senate aides say the bill has little chance of coming to a vote this year before lawmakers quit making laws and go out on the campaign trail in a few weeks, according to the article.

Although the Senate calendar will likely be crowded in the next few weeks, Reg•Watch thinks the Democratic leadership should squeeze this bill in. Tobacco is always a hot-button issue, but the bill has broad support. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) sponsors the Senate version (S. 625), and 56 co-sponsors including 12 Republicans have jumped on board. If supporters can gin up three more yes votes, the bill could pass a cloture vote and sail to passage.

Even Phillip Morris, a major cigarette maker, supports the bill. (R.J. Reynolds is opposed.)

President Bush has threatened to veto the bill (his veto stamp is actually sponsored by R.J. Reynolds) but passage is still worth a shot. The bill passed the House by a veto proof margin and may stand a similar chance in the Senate.

The 110th Congress hasn't accomplished much, but this bill provides an opportunity to put one in the win column. Instead, it appears as though Democratic leadership will waste time voting on legislation that doesn't stand a chance, like a second economic stimulus package and misguided energy policy.