CLINTON DEFENDS TOBACCO PROPOSAL

The president calls on House Speaker Gingrich to once again back the
smoking crackdown.

Washington-Trying to prod Congress into action, President Clinton on Monday
defended anti-smoking legislation against escalating attacks from the
tobacco industry and a leading Republican.

"The tobacco industry once again seeks to put its bottom line above what
should be our bottom line - the health of our children," said Clinton as he
urged lawmakers returning from spring recess to approve comprehensive
tobacco legislation in the next five weeks.

The next few months will be critical for any tobacco initiative because
lawmakers are unlikely to tackle such complex and bitterly contested
legislation later in the year when many will be up for re-election.

Before the recess, tobacco opponents were encouraged when the Senate
Commerce Committee, led by chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., approved
legislation that would regulate tobacco products and extract more than $500
billion from the industry. The measure would increase the price of a pack
of cigarettes by at least $1.10.

But since then, the major tobacco companies have vowed to fight the
legislation and last week launched a multimillion-dollar advertising
campaign slamming the measure.

The measure got another setback over the weekend when House Speaker Newt
Gingrich, R-Ga., blasted the bill passed by the Senate committee as too
liberal.

The president, however, commended McCain's efforts, and urged Congress not
to submit to tobacco industry pressure and water down any tobacco
initiative.

"This is not the time for half-measures that simply won't work. And it will
only play into the tobacco industry's hands," he warned.

Clinton noted that Gingrich appeared to have altered his stand on tobacco.

Several weeks ago the Georgia Republican said the tobacco industry had no
credibility and vowed that the House would not allow Democrats to appear
tougher on the industry than Republicans.

But last weekend Gingrich suddenly echoed the tobacco industry's position
when he attacked the Senate legislation as a "bad bill."

"I am opposed to a liberal tobacco bill which would raise taxes to create
bigger government," he said.

The president said he had been encouraged by Gingrich's earlier comments
and said he hoped "he will return to his former position."

The next stop for the tobacco legislation would be the Senate floor. But
House Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., said Monday that he was
uncertain when the matter would be taken up. He had said before the spring
break that the legislation would have to be considered before Memorial Day.