Broad Tobacco FDA Regulation Bill Clears House
Smokers? I have a funny feeling were one step closer to smoking being made ileagle…
For the record… I am a smoker.
WASHINGTON, July 30, 2008 (Reuters) — Legislation to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration broad authority to regulate cigarettes and other forms of tobacco cleared the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday.
The White House issued a statement voicing “serious concerns” about the bill and said advisers would recommend a presidential veto.
Backers, including public health groups and many Democrats, said the measure would help curtail youth smoking, prevent heart disease and reduce rising health-care costs.
“With this legislation, we will place sharp and sorely needed limits on access to tobacco products and on tobacco advertising and marketing,” said Rep. John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The White House, however, said the legislation would “put an enormous burden on the FDA” that could detract from other public health responsibilities.
Requiring the FDA to oversee tobacco products also “could be perceived by the public as an endorsement that these products are safe, resulting in more people smoking,” the White House said.
The bill, which cleared the House in a 326-102 vote, would authorize the FDA to police cigarette labeling and recall tobacco products seen as unreasonably harmful.
The FDA also would have to approve all new cigarettes and other tobacco products, and set standards for so-called reduced-risk products. The agency would not be empowered to ban cigarettes or require nicotine levels of zero.
The bill would authorize millions of dollars of fees levied on the industry starting in fiscal 2009 to fund the program.
The measure’s most vocal proponent from industry has been the nation’s largest cigarette maker, Philip Morris, a unit of Altria Group Inc. The legislation has won support from a host of smaller tobacco companies and retailers.
Some tobacco companies have opposed FDA regulation, saying it could spur industry consolidation because bigger companies would be best able to comply with it.
The Lorillard Tobacco Company, a unit of Lorillard Inc issued a statement saying it was “disappointed” with the House vote.
Lorillard — which makes Newport, Kent and other brands — supports reasonable federal regulation of the tobacco industry, but believes “the FDA is already overburdened and is the wrong agency to carry out this enormous task,” it said.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat who has written a companion version of the bill, is hopeful the Senate will consider the legislation in the fall, spokeswoman Melissa Wagoner said.
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
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If I can’t smoke a cigarette, I might want to smoke a liberal.
I might have to do it every half hour.
It’s their choice.
I’ll even walk outside to do it.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:58 pmLOL right on! same here.
get done gettin’ some booty. “be back in a minute (random chick) im going to go smoke….a liberal
would probably be alot more satisfying. definitely better for our health. cant say the same for them
July 30th, 2008 at 8:12 pmCigarettes bring in some of the biggest monies to the government …
They wouldn’t make them illegal, anymore than they would privatize Social Security.
BTW … I haven’t smoked cigarettes (or anything else) in over 25 yrs. But I defend the rights of smokers.
And the government thought alcohol prohibition was bad???
Heh.
July 30th, 2008 at 8:20 pmI am with lftbhndagn that they will make cigarettes illegal one day soon. I believe this because they continue to push the harmful effects of smoking and then promote the far more risky health hazards of promiscuous sex, especially homosexual sex.I read that the homosexual community is spreading a new staff infection that leaves sores on the genital and anal regions and is highly infectious and yet I do not see the call for warning labels stamped on homosexuals.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:08 pmMore typical liberal logic.
Never smoked anything, nor used any tobacco product, yet I can’t help but see this leading down a slippery slope. Next they’ll come for our guns again. When and where will it stop (if ever)?!
For your laughs:
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/154265
There are a lot worse things a person can do that smoke. I’m a young adult, if I couldn’t find adapt to second hand smoke, I’d be a pathetic failure!
Good point, we’re supposed to just think of fudge packing as a wholesome practice?!
July 30th, 2008 at 9:46 pmYour understanding attitude is nice Drill and Anderson(you have a name now)BUT THIS IS A SMOKING POST AND YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.
Seriously A.S., I know Kurt(the infidel) seems really cool smoking a cig after “gittin’ some booty” from a “random chick.” But remember: Smoking is bad. Don’t smoke. It’s bad.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:35 pmfuck! first smoking because it causes heart disease! when are they gonna start regulating potato chips?
July 30th, 2008 at 10:58 pmWhen Government provides your healthcare, everything will the a “public health” issue and the bannings can begin. Watch for it.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:10 pmInch by inch we are losing our liberties.
July 31st, 2008 at 3:45 amIf there was no money in tobacco I doubt there would be another mention of the industry under that dome in DC that is adorned with golden tobacco leaves.
July 31st, 2008 at 4:35 amThe only thing I still smoke is already illegal.
July 31st, 2008 at 4:42 amuh oh. someone call in the morals police. my joke about getting booty seemed to have bothered word drum.
replace the word smoking with “drinking sweet tea” and the getting booty part with “watching the cosby show”
ahh there we go. hopefully thats cleaned up enough for ya
July 31st, 2008 at 9:07 amGo watch these two videos. They’re good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t00UmIHpUw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q7kUFS-0XQ
July 31st, 2008 at 10:00 am