Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund Urges Senator Hatch to Reject Campaign Contr

[NVMojo]

A Mormon taking tobacco campaign contributions??? What is the world coming to?

9/21/2006 1:28:00 PM

To: State Desk

Contact: Nicole Yazdanseta of Tobacco-Free Kids, 202-296-5469

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund today called on U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and all incumbents and candidates, to return campaign contributions from tobacco companies that were recently found guilty of civil racketeering, and reject future tobacco contributions. Senator Hatch should also pledge his independence from Big Tobacco by supporting legislation allowing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate tobacco products.

The Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund released a report, based on Federal Election Commission (FEC) data, that shows tobacco company political action committees (PACs) have made $16,000 in political contributions to Senator Hatch so far in the 2005-2006 election cycle. Senator Hatch is among the top 10 recipients of tobacco contributions in the U.S. Senate.

U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler in August found the major cigarette companies guilty of violating civil racketeering laws by deceiving the public about the dangers of smoking and their marketing to children. The companies were also found in a new study by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to have secretly and significantly increased the levels of nicotine in cigarette smoke between 1998 and 2004.

"The tobacco companies have been found guilty of a 50 year conspiracy of lies, deception, disease, and death and of continuing to violate the law, but members of Congress are still taking millions of dollars from them and failing to take action to protect kids," said William V. Corr, executive director of the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund. "Senator Hatch should stand up to the tobacco companies, return their contributions and reject future donations from this rogue industry. He should also support effective tobacco prevention legislation such as a bill to give the FDA authority over tobacco."

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http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=72917