LOTT SAYS SENATE ANTI-SMOKING BILL `TEETERING'

The Senate anti-teen-smoking bill is "teetering" because of attempts to
make it tougher on the tobacco industry, Majority Leader Trent Lott,
R-Miss., warned yesterday as lawmakers returned from a one-week recess.

A vote on the bill, which was already delayed through filibusters by the
measure's opponents, faces a further setback as the Senate in effect
recesses tomorrow for the funeral of former Sen. Barry Goldwater. Also,
political primaries today will prevent votes on amendments to the bill,
Lott said.

But insiders said the key to whether the Senate acts by next week centers
on Lott's willingness to turn back efforts to delay action by members of
the leadership who fiercely oppose the bill.

Those opponents include Republican Sens. Don Nickles of Oklahoma, the
assistant majority leader; Paul Coverdell of Georgia; and Larry Craig of
Idaho. They argue that it is a big-government, big-spending measure whose
steep price increases would foster a black market.

Lott criticized a series of tough amendments, including one that drew a
majority of support before the recess to remove an $8 billion annual cap on
tobacco lawsuit payments, as well as a proposal to strengthen the penalties
tobacco companies would pay if cuts in teen smoking don't meet specified
goals. Lott said that amendment could be the "death knell." The bill,
sponsored by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would raise cigarette prices by
$1.10 per pack, restrict marketing and cost the industry $516 billion over
25 years.

"The bill is teetering - teetering in the balance here - as to whether or
not it's just going to collapse of its own weight," Lott said. He said it
is still "possible" to work out some of these remaining "sticky issues."

Lott said he wants to alternate the tobacco debate with other issues. But
Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota has said Democrats will
not allow the Senate to move to any other issues until tobacco is resolved.

Opponents of the bill are proposing amendments to tie it to tax cuts,
including a change in the so-called marriage penalty, and to anti-drug
measures, including a $3 billion-per-year plan sponsored by Coverdell and
Craig. Also, two groups of senators are working on substitute bills that
would scale back provisions of the McCain measure.

Checked-by: Richard Lake