Alabama attorney general to announce tobacco moves

MONTGOMERY, Alabama (Reuter) Alabama Attorney General Bill
Pryor, an opponent of antitobacco lawsuits yielding millions of
dollars for other states, will propose Wednesday laws meant to
win Alabama payments from cigarette makers, an aide said
Tuesday.
Along with fellow Republican, Gov. Fob James, Pryor has
opposed the lawsuits filed by 40 other state governments that
led to last June's $368.5 billion national settlement.
Two states, including Mississippi, have already collected
more than $900 million from the tobacco industry to settle legal
claims for government spending on sick smokers.
Lt. Gov. Don Siegelman, a Democrat and prospective opponent
to James in next year's gubernatorial election, has filed a
private lawsuit on behalf of Alabama and has clashed repeatedly
with the Pryor and James on the issue.
Jessica Medeiros, press secretary to Pryor, declined to
discuss specifics of the legislation other than to say the
proposals would be innovative.
Pryor has said the lawsuits filed by his fellow attorneys
general were unlikely to stand up in court.
A news conference has been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon
at the state capitol here.