Thursday, August 14, 2008

Regarding the Aug. 11 editorial "A Leash on Big Tobacco":

The best "alternative" to passing a bill to regulate Big Tobacco -- legislation that is very "imperfect" because so many concessions have been made to help overcome a threatened filibuster and veto -- is not to rush for passage now but to await the next Congress.

The bill would probably be supported rather than opposed by the new administration and would be likely to face a less pro-business and anti-regulatory Congress; the racist menthol exception could be removed; and the bill could be strengthened without the need for the devastating concessions in the current version that are necessary to ensure the support of cigarette maker Philip Morris.

JOHN F. BANZHAF III

Executive Director and Chief Counsel

Action on Smoking and Health

Washington