Political Quotes

“a year ago on Saturday, the attorneys general of most of the States of the United States reached an agreement with the tobacco companies. Those attorneys general understood that in order to have real control over tobacco sales and advertising such an agreement needed to be reached. Members of this body have never understood the fundamental fact that without that agreement, the basic restrictions on advertising, on look-backs, and on the like are blatantly unconstitutional. As a result, we have a bill before us that is unconstitutional, steals the money that the States' attorneys general earned for themselves, and provides no incentives for tobacco companies to operate responsibly. If we reject it, either we will get out of the hot rhetoric of this body with a small group who came up with a responsible bill, or the States will go ahead themselves. People will be protected. They were protected by the States, in the first place. They will be protected by the States if we fail to act responsibly. This bill is not remotely responsible.”