Congress to renew FDA tobacco authority fight (Reuters)

[Eugene]

Congress to renew FDA tobacco authority fight

By Kevin Drawbaugh

Fri Feb 2, 9:18 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. Congress plan to renew efforts, possibly
as soon as next week, to give the Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority
over cigarettes, three congressional aides said on Friday.

Massachusetts Democrat Edward Kennedy is expected to take the lead in the Senate
by introducing a bill to give the FDA broad sway over tobacco products, aides said.

-snip-

California Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman (news, bio, voting record) is expected to file
a similar bill soon in the House of Representatives. Virginia Republican Rep. Tom Davis
is planning to be a co-sponsor with Waxman, the aides said.

"This legislation has broad bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. We fully
expect the Congress to consider the legislation quickly and we're hopeful it will pass
with overwhelming support," said Bill Corr, executive director of the Campaign for
Tobacco-Free Kids, an activist group.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070203/pl_nm/tobacco_congress_dc

[mongo]

1. Crap.

You might think that now that the Dems are in power they might be trying to stop this unwinable and illegal war, maybe trying to provide health care for the uninsured, fighting poverty, or a whole host of issues.

BUT NOOOOOOO! They have to go after cigarettes.

Note to congress: Get the fuck out of my face and my personal choices. If the FDA gets ahold of cigarettes you know damn well it's the first step on the road to prohibition.

[Hubert Flottz]

2. What a waste of time...

No wonder the country is falling apart at the seams.