Political Quotes

“on behalf of many tobacco growers with whom I have worked, I rise today to introduce the Tobacco Market Transition Act. The comprehensive tobacco settlement announced on June 20 of last year simply did not include provisions for tobacco growers. This provision is designed to fill that void. This legislation is truly the result of a grassroots effort and elaborates the concepts I discussed in the Chamber on November 3. Tobacco-dependent regions realize that their lives will be directly affected by comprehensive tobacco legislation and they want to prepare for that future. Key members of my staff and I have worked with tobacco growers, leaders in tobacco growing communities and members of the public health community to develop legislation which will provide a soft landing to those regions that have so long depended on the production of tobacco. In short, because Government action is about to erode the value of quota, there would be a buyout of existing quota at $8 a pound. A privatized tobacco program limiting supply would be reinstituted, providing growers with a license to grow tobacco based on historical average production for that grower. To provide long-term economic security in tobacco communities, $250 million will be provided annually for economic development. Finally, a transition payment would be offered to growers as the system changes from its present form to a new one.”