Senators re-ignite tobacco row
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Five Democrats in the Senate yesterday called on Janet Reno, US Attorney-General, to file a federal lawsuit against the tobacco industry to recover the costs of paying for Medicare and Medicaid patients with tobacco-related diseases.
"It's time the federal government joins the states in seeking reimbursement for the huge health care costs smoking and the use of tobacco products impose on American taxpayers," said Senators Frank Lautenberg, Ron Wyden, Tom Harkin, Dick Durbin and Paul Wellstone in a letter to Ms Reno.
Senator Wellstone said staff members of the Justice Department had expressed "a great deal of interest" in filing the suit. White House officials also supported the senators' request for a federal suit.
So far, 23 state attorney-generals have filed suits against the industry and the first state trial is scheduled to begin in July in Mississippi.
Senator Harkin said that given that Liggett Group's recent admission that smoking caused cancer and that it targeted children in marketing products, the government now had a strong enough suit to file against the industry.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments