Source:Orange County Registernews,page 15
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CONGRESS:$34 million program would help states stop cigarette sales to youths.
By CURT ANDERSON
The Associated Press

WASHINGTONReversing course by an unexpectedly large margin, the Senate
dealt the tobacco industry a blow Wednesday by approving the Clinton
administration's $34 million request for a crackdown on cigarette sales to
teenagers.

"Big tobacco fought it because they want to keep on getting these kids
hooked," said Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, the main sponsor of
legislation backing the administration's funding request.

"This is one step in a big battle, but it's a great step."

A few hours later, the House showed its nonbinding but also overwhelming
support of the full $43 million, which is $10 million more than House
members had initially appropriated.

"It is an important victory for our children and a clear endorsement of the
national effort to protect them from the dangers of tobacco," Vice
President Al Gore said in a statement.

In July, the Senate rejected an attempt to fully fund the Food and Drug
Administration program that would provide money for all 50 states to ensure
stores are checking identification to prevent minors from buying tobacco
products. Instead, the Senate had approved just $4.9 million, enough for
perhaps 10 states.

During the August congressional recess, tobacco foes lobbied furiously to
boost the amount, focusing on a provision of the justcompleted
balancedbudget deal that permits tobacco companies to use $50 billion from
a future cigarette tax increase to help pay for the proposed national
settlement of healthrelated smoking lawsuits.

Harkin also changed the source of the $34 million for FDA from an
assessment on tobacco companies to a reduction in computer money for the
Agriculture Department.

"I think in many cases people have had a closer look and that they feel
very comfortable with the vote," said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle,
D.S.D., who switched his vote.

When the issue came to a vote Wednesday, senators joined Daschle in
rejecting an attempt to kill Harkin's amendment by a surprisingly decisive
7028 vote. Harkin's previous effort failed 5248.

The amendment was added to the Agriculture Department spending bill for
fiscal 1998, the final version of which will be produced through
HouseSenate negotiations.

Later Wednesday, the House vote 299125 for a nonbinding resolution
instructing its negotiators to support the Senate funding level instead of
the $24 million the House had approved.

Meanwhile, a Senate committee continued hearings Wednesday on the proposed
$368 billion settlement of state healthrelated smoking lawsuits despite
growing sentiment that Congress will put the issue off until next year
because of its complexity and controversial nature.

"At this point, it doesn't appear as if we're prepared ... to come to any
conclusion about the tobacco agreement," Daschle said. "We want to make
sure we've covered the bases."

On Tuesday, the wholesale price of cigarettes rose by 7 cents a pack, about
7.5 percent, which should translate into a 4 percent retail boost for smokers.

The rise, which follows an increase of about 5 cents a pack in March, will
be used by companies to pay for lawsuit settlements.

Under the FDA's crackdown on teen smoking, government money will be
distributed to states that request it to help them check retail stores to
determine if they are selling tobacco products illegally to youngsters
under 19. The Clinton administration estimates that such sales could reach
$1.2 billion annually.