NYT- Limit for Award in Tobacco Case Sets Off Protest

[maddezmom]

By MICHAEL JANOFSKY and DAVID JOHNSTON
Published: June 9, 2005
WASHINGTON, June 8 - A Justice Department decision to seek $10 billion for a stop-smoking program in its suit against the country's leading tobacco companies, instead of the $130 billion suggested by one of its expert witnesses, set off a firestorm on Wednesday.

Documents: Tobacco Litigation (findlaw.com) Democratic lawmakers and public health groups attacked the department for what they said was a politically motivated decision.

Judge Gladys Kessler of Federal District Court, the presiding judge in the trial here against the companies, took note of the sudden change, telling the court on Wednesday, "Perhaps it suggests that additional influences have been brought to bear on what the governments case is."

The change infuriated lawmakers who have long been critics of the tobacco industry. "It reeks of an administration whose heart isn't really in this case," said Senator Frank J. Lautenberg of New Jersey, at a news conference with other Democrats who suggested that Justice Department officials with ties to the tobacco industry might have grown uncomfortable with a large financial demand as part of the government's case against the companies.

~snip~
more: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/09/politics/09tobacco.html?hp&ex=1118289600&en=8cf975d94c856f64&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[central scrutinizer]

1. no investment pays off better than a contribution to Bushco

Donate $100,000 to Bushco and you are pretty much guaranteed a multimillion, if not multibillion dollar payback.

[Frances]

2. Exactly

People are criticizing Dean for not raising as much money for the Dems as the Repubs. But Dean isn't raising corrupt money the way the Repubs are.

[sam sarrha]

3. INVESTIGATE for stockmarket insider trading on this..

when a corp gets an extra 120 Billion dollars.. it tends to effect the stock..which Bu$h Minions invested heavely..???

[central scrutinizer]

4. both of my parents died from smoking related causes

Thanks for supporting that old culture of life, Bushco!!

[Iowa]

5. Blatant, "In Your Face", Corruption...

Nothing shocks me anymore.

[kodi]

6. republicans are always soft on white collar crime

.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. This is an OUTRAGE! nt

[DeepModem Mom]

8. kick

[NNN0LHI]

9. Why do feds want fewer penalties for big tobacco?

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-tob09.html

WASHINGTON -- A federal judge on Wednesday questioned what was behind the government's decision to dramatically reduce the proposed size of a nationwide stop-smoking program, one of the penalties recommended in a racketeering suit against cigarette makers.

The government asked U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler on Tuesday to require the companies to fund a five-year, $10 billion program, a fraction of the 25-year, $130 billion program suggested by government witness Michael C. Fiore, a University of Wisconsin medical professor.

The Justice Department called the $10 billion program an "initial request" that could be expanded. But Kessler said Wednesday, "There may be some additional influences being brought to bear" on the government's decision.

Representatives Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Martin Meehan (D-Mass.) sent a letter Wednesday to Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine asking him to assess whether "improper political interference" factored in the decision to ask for a smaller program.

[smoogatz]

10. Because Big Tobacco Owns Their Sorry Republican Asses?

Just a guess.

[fasttense]

11. Oh yeah, some additional influences

Like money from the tobacco industry to the repukes. It always helps. Just look how well pornography is doing, once they started contributing to the repukes.