Frank Lautenberg: “I rise to introduce the Tobacco Medicaid Recovery Act, along with Senator Wellstone. This bill will create a new…”

“I rise to introduce the Tobacco Medicaid Recovery Act, along with Senator Wellstone. This bill will create a new Federal/State partnership to help recover Medicaid costs associated with tobacco use. Mr. President, for years, the tobacco industry has hooked Americans on products that cause death and disease. They've made billions of dollars in the process. But they've never been held accountable. When big tobacco sells its deadly products, all Americans pay the price. Not only through the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers who are lost to lung cancer and other diseases. But through the higher taxes that must be paid to support programs like Medicaid. Mr. President, 10 courageous states are suing the tobacco industry for the large Medicaid costs associated with tobacco use. There are two other states, including New Jersey, that will soon file suit and 10 others that may file before the summer is out. These suits enjoy bipartisan support from Democratic and Republican governors and Democratic and Republican state attorney generals.”