FORBES RAILS AGAINST TOBACCO DEAL

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Publisher and former presidential candidate Steve
Forbes on Thursday blasted tobacco settlement proposals as ``a huge
payoff'' to the legal profession.

Forbes was referring to arrangements between states and law firms working
on lawsuits against the industry.

``That was simply a political payoff of the most appalling order,'' Forbes
said.

Forbes, who pulled out of the 1996 presidential race but is considering
another run, addressed the issue as yet another proposed settlement of the
tobacco dispute was introduced in Congress. It would boost cigarette prices
by $1.50 a pack, extracting $25 billion a year from the industry, including
some for anti-smoking educational efforts.

The tobacco industry would see its annual liability capped at $8 billion
under the measure.

``It rings false,'' Forbes said. ``If they want to put dollars in for more
educational efforts for young people, public service ads or something that
might work persuading young people not to take up the habit, all to the
good.''

Forbes said proposals being discussed in Congress include sweeping new
spending programs, all based on the cynical assumption that a significant
number of people will continue to smoke and collect damages.

``I can guarantee you that's a fraction of the boodle they are talking
about now,'' Forbes said. ``It is a typical Washington shuffle.''

Forbes acknowledged that those damaged by tobacco have a right to sue the
industry.

``If somebody has done something wrong, then they should pay damages,'' he
said. ``What you have here, part of it, is really a huge payoff to the
trial bar.''

Forbes said he was backing legislation in Congress which would limit
lawyers involved in tobacco cases to collecting an hourly fee of $150
``which is still not a bad wage.''

One judge in Florida has calculated that lawyers involved in that state's
lawsuit against the industry could earn $7,000 to $8,000 an hour, Forbes
said.