A big year for tobacco lobbying in New York
Jessica Alaimo
Tobacco interests are stepping up their lobbying spend in New York.
Altria Client Services, formerly known as Philip Morris International, was the state’s top lobbying client in January and February of this year, after having spent $1.2 million lobbying state and local governments in 2013, their highest amount since at least 2007.
The results of this spending haven’t been apparent yet: The tobacco age was raised to 21 in New York City and e-cigarettes were made subject to the same restrictions as traditional tobacco, even as further restrictions were put in place at the state level.
But there’s still plenty at stake. E-cigarettes are still lightly regulated outside the city and the tobacco industry will do what it can to keep it that way. In addition, the industry has an interest in seeing New York State adopt lawsuit reforms that will make it easier for them to appeal big awards in the future.
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/magazine/2014/04/8544505/big-year-tobacco-lobbying-new-york