CWNews
NC Senators File Compromise
Republican Sen. Richard Burr and Democratic Sen. Kay Haganare introducing a compromise bill that would ban advertising in magazines and newspapers and prohibit the words "light," "mild," "ultra-light," "medium" and "low" from being used as descriptors of tobacco products. It would also create a federal agency dedicated to regulating the manufacture, marketing and use of the products.
Legislation that would require the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco including the ingredients of cigarettes and other products was passed by a House committee last week. While the bill would not let the FDA outlaw tobacco or nicotine, the agency could reduce or eliminate cancer-causing chemicals in cigarette smoke. The bill would prohibit candy-flavored cigars and cigarettes and give the FDA authority to ban menthol.
Former President George W. Bush opposed similar legislation that passed the House last year. But President Barack Obama supports the bill, increasing its chances of becoming law.
Cigarette maker Philip Morris USA has been supportive of FDA regulation, but many smaller tobacco companies, including North Carolina's R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Lorillard Tobacco Co., oppose it. They say the regulation would just lock in place Philip Morris's already larger share of the tobacco market.
Burr, who has fought against FDA regulation since he was in the U.S. House, said his bill would try to keep children from even thinking about starting to smoke.
Hagan said she is opposed to giving the already-overburdened FDA control over tobacco and that she and Burr are offering the alternative rather than merely opposing the regulation bill.