TOBACCO SETTLEMENT: MANUFACTURERS UP ANTE
Negotiators in the global tobacco settlement talks MondayThis is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
"floated a larger lump-sum payment by cigarette makers -- $375
billion over 25 years, up from an initial figure of $300
billion," BOSTON GLOBE reports. The move comes as "tobacco
companies are conceding ground on virtually every point of
contention." Under the agreement being discussed, $15 billion of
the lump-sum payment would be paid out up front. In addition, a
formula would be designed "so that if young people continue to
smoke a given brand in large numbers, the manufacturer of that
brand would be penalized," according to the GLOBE. There is also
reportedly a general agreement that tobacco manufacturers will
not be given blanket immunity from future lawsuits (Flint, 5/6).
WAY TO GO: NEW YORK TIMES reports that the state attorneys
general have offered a plan that would provide "full legal rights
to smokers suing tobacco companies but would limit the amount of
money the industry would have to pay out annually." Although few
details were given on how the proposal would work, sources close
to the talks said suits may be paid from a yearly pool, and that
if a smoker won a suit and the pool was already empty, the
payment would be deferred until the next year. An alternative
mechanism would allow part of an award to be paid when won and
the rest paid later. The cigarette manufacturers have countered
with proposals that would limit how much an individual can win
and the types of suits that can be brought forth. They are
attempting to require smokers to mediate claims prior to suing
(Meier, 5/6).
435-HEADED MONSTER: The GLOBE reports that there is some
concern that whatever is agreed upon in the settlement talks will
be heavily altered by Congress. "Anti-tobacco forces are seeking
assurances from Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) that the
pact won't be weakened," according to the GLOBE. Gregory
Connolly, director of the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program,
said that "we still have to weigh what goes into Congress and
what actually comes out of Congress." Stan Glantz, a medical
professor at the University of California at San Francisco and
longtime tobacco foe, said, however, "it doesn't matter what gets
agreed to in these negotiations. It will get turned into
hamburger in Congress" (5/6).
ANOTHER VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS: Dr. Lonnie Bristow,
trustee and immediate past president of the American Medical
Association, has been selected to join the ongoing global
settlement talks. According to the AMA, the appointment was made
in an effort to broaden representation and participation on the
part of the public health community in the tobacco negotiations.
Bristow said, "We will not support any conclusion to these talks
that is not consistent with our core principles. However, 3,000
children begin to smoke each day, and it would be irresponsible
not to accept an opportunity to discuss ways we can advance the
fight against tobacco and further the cause of public health"
(AMA release, 5/5).