Tobacco States Fume Over Bush Remarks

"I just think it's sad that Richard Burr and his colleagues haven't even educated the president on the devastating effect of these cuts," he said.

Burr, Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) and Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) have all said they have spoken with top White House officials and are trying to speak directly with Bush on the subject. Asked Friday whether the White House intended to clarify Bush's comments, spokesman Trent Duffy said, "We have nothing to add to what he said."

It remained unclear last week why Bush apparently opposes a bill so broadly supported by members of his party, but some close to the issue say the question of how to pay for the buyout is a possible reason why.

Burr was part of an effort last year in the House to finance the $12 billion buyout through an existing excise tax on tobacco products -- money that now goes into the general fund -- but that plan picked up limited support. A more widely endorsed plan would have tobacco companies pay for it. The Philip Morris Cos., the nation's largest tobacco company, supports relying on corporate funds, while the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. argues that it should be done through excise taxes, if at all.

Bush's apparent rejection of a buyout presented Kerry with an opportunity. "Last week, George Bush said the current tobacco quota system is fine and didn't need to be changed, a surprising view considering the broad support for both a buyout and FDA regulation of cigarette manufacturing," said Kerry spokesman Phil Singer. "John Kerry, who supported tobacco buyout legislation in 1998, disagrees. He believes a quota buyout of tobacco farmers and quota owners is important for rural farmers throughout the South and is encouraged by ongoing tobacco buyout negotiations in Congress."

Keith Parrish, a tobacco grower from eastern North Carolina and chief executive officer of the National Tobacco Growers Association, which represents the state grower associations, said the growers' response to Bush's comments has been broadly negative.

"I've been up to Washington many times to discuss the grower problems, and we were told this issue was on [the president's] radar screen," Parrish said. "We were encouraged.

"Now growers have a very different feeling," he said. "Democrats are making statements that this needs to happen, and growers are watching and will vote depending on who they think will bring this thing home."

Kay Fisher, another North Carolina tobacco grower, was more blunt in her reaction to Bush's statement. "Right now, we feel totally let down," she said.

Both Fisher and Parrish said most of the tobacco growers they know are ready to accept FDA regulation as the political price for the quota buyout -- a significant change from grower opinion just several years ago. Efforts to pass a grower buyout on its own have failed, as have bills to grant the FDA regulatory authority over tobacco products. Many in Congress believe the only way to get either one passed is to join them together.

"The buyout deal has to get done and, realistically, it will only get done in Congress along with FDA regulations," Parrish said. "Most growers understand that and can live with it."