TOBACCO DEAL IS RELIABLE MODEL WITH NO FRILLS

The latest tobacco deal isn't as grandiose or impressive as the one created
two summers ago. But it's still significant and ought to be signed onto by
the country's attorneys general.

Even Washington's Attorney General Christine Gregoire admitted in a national
press conference Monday that this deal won't end youth smoking. But it
reaches the maximum level of what can be done to diminish Big Tobacco
without Congress' help. This plan leaves out an important piece of tobacco
punishment that only Congress can control -- FDA regulation of tobacco.

The plan does include $206 billion to be split among the cooperating states.
So far an as yet unknown number of states must agree to the deal in order
for it to fly. While the new plan includes significant money, the monetary
compensation is less than the previous deal's $368.5 billion.

Critics are ready to tear it apart. They're rightly disappointed with the
lack of specific goals to reduce teen smokers that the former plan included.
And there's no huge cigarette price increase.

But there are very positive points to the plan. First, the state's $4
billion can pay for publicly funded anti-smoking campaigns and smoking
cessation classes. It's only right for Washington to use this money to
prevent future illnesses from tobacco that increase Medicaid costs. And,
Washington should use some of its windfall to increase the number of people
on the Basic Health Plan. Over time, the state-run health plan costs
taxpayers less money than paying for uninsured patients who end up in the
emergency room.

Another big portion of the deal includes important restrictions on
advertising and sponsorships. Big Tobacco has had an open advertising market
with bill boards, NASCAR racing, T-shirts and more. No longer. Joe Camel and
other cartoon figures like him would be buried forever. While it would have
been nice to see a complete ban on sponsorships, tobacco companies would
only be allowed to sponsor one event.

In a unique part of the plan, tobacco companies would pay $1.45 billion for
a national tobacco public education fund and they would have to release all
previously secret documents from their corporations.

While this plan is important, it's hard not to regret the failure of what
seemed like the ultimate punishment for Big Tobacco that died in Congress
last session. Even Washington's Gregoire is the first to admit it would have
been nice to see that one pushed through. She will continue the pressure on
Congress to regulate tobacco like it regulates all other drugs through the
Food and Drug Administration.

Unlike the previous deal, there is no stipulation of immunity for Big
Tobacco. That means governments, local public health advocates and citizens
can keep harping on tobacco companies and form future lawsuits if they have
the ground to stand on.

This is only the start. It will take everyone's vigilance to make sure the
fight against Big Tobacco continues.

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst