SENATE TOBACCO BILL YANKED IN ALL DIRECTIONS

WASHINGTON, June 6 (Reuters) - The Senate tobacco bill has been pulled to
the left, yanked to the right, and dragged into parliamentary quicksand.

After two weeks of meandering but acrimonious debate, the only thing
certain is that the Senate is stuck and a lot of people are mad at each
other.

The Senate has spent days arguing about Arizona Republican John McCain's
legislation but has cast only five votes -- two of which handed key
victories to public health advocates wanting an even tougher crackdown on
cigarette makers.

Conservative foes have also piled on amendments. Most of them have not been
decided, but some that are likely to pass would take money McCain had
intended for anti-smoking programmes and medical research and instead spend
it on such conservative priorities as tax cuts and the war on drugs.

``It's death by amputation,'' said Senate Democratic Leader Thomas Daschle
of South Dakota.

McCain, who is generally conservative but finds himself isolated from the
right-wing of his party on tobacco, is trying to hold together a coalition
of moderates, liberals and a smattering of conservatives who share his
views on tobacco.

Many public health lobbyists who closely track the bill believe that
despite all the machinations, McCain can rally enough votes to pass the
bill -- if he gets the chance.

The paradox he faces is that even with broad support, he may not be able to
rally enough backing to overcome monumental procedural hurdles that will
determine whether the Senate ever does vote on the overall bill.

In the meantime the Senate is truly stuck. Unless a series of bipartisan
agreements are struck quickly, it cannot move ahead on the bill unless 60
out of 100 senators vote for a ``cloture petition'' to cut off debate. And
because of an unusual tactic used at the very start, it cannot just drop
the bill either and go onto other business without broad agreement.

As of now, no one is agreeing on anything. Twice Senate Majority Leader
Trent Lott, a Mississippi Republican, and Daschle had unusually vitriolic
and accusatory exchanges on the Senate floor. Each accused the other of
acting in bad faith.

``This further sours the well,'' Lott said to Daschle after he set in
motion the attempt to cut off debate that will lead to a vote next Tuesday.
Democrats acknowledge they will probably lose that vote, but will keep
filing cloture petition after cloture petition hoping to eventually woo
more support.

McCain, who says the cloture votes are premature, has been pleading with
everyone to calm down. ``Harsh rhetoric and parliamentary manoeuvres
intended to polarise the Senate along partisan lines will result in only
one thing -- the demise of comprehensive tobacco legislation,'' he said.

Republicans said Democrats have been stalling and running for cover ever
since Texas Republican Phil Gramm flummoxed them with his proposal to
devote a third or more of the tobacco funds to reducing the ``marriage
penalty.''

The notion of eliminating that tax code quirk that makes some married
couples pay more than they would if they were single is a tempting idea to
politicians in an election year.

Democrats ``didn't have anything to respond with,'' said David Hoppe, a top
aide to Lott. ``They'd prefer to scream at us for not voting while they've
been the ones who refuse to vote,'' fearing that many in their own ranks
would join Gramm.

The Democrats have put forth a smaller, rival tax plan but have not agreed
with Lott on how and when to vote on it.

There are several scenarios for getting the Senate unstuck. Solving a
bitter feud over aid to tobacco farmers, or a bipartisan deal on an
anti-drug component could get things moving again.

Even Democrats who dislike the changes promoted by the conservatives are so
eager for a bill that they will accept almost anything to get it through
the Senate, and then try to reshape it in subsequent negotiations, called a
conference, with the White House and the House. If the House never acts on
tobacco, the Senate bill is moot anyway.

``Have no illusions -- this bill will be written in conference,'' said
Massachusetts Democrat Edward Kennedy. ``The president will either get a
responsible bill, or veto it because of these (tax-cutting) measures.''

The McCain bill is the most ambitious anti-smoking measure ever considered
by Congress. It would raise cigarette prices by $1.10 a pack, strengthen
Food and Drug Administration authority over tobacco and nicotine, and
subject cigarettes to new health, marketing, advertising and labeling
regulations.

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)