Lowry Relights Tobacco Debate

Sat., Dec. 23, 1995

Associated Press

The crusade to put a lid on tobacco use by youngsters failed miserably in the last legislative session, but that hasn’t stopped Gov. Mike Lowry from putting forth an even more ambitious proposal for 1996.

Indications, however, are that the package will meet the same fate as its predecessor.

The proposal, released as part of Lowry’s executive-request legislation, would ban mail-order tobacco sales on grounds there is no way to stop kids from ordering by mail; outlaw free samples of tobacco products because they too often end up in kids’ hands; and bar cigarettes from being sold in packs of fewer than 20, so called “kiddie packs” of one or more cigarettes.

The tobacco industry, specifically the Tobacco Institute, RJ Reynolds and Phillip Morris, are steady contributors to legislative campaigns, having spread about $75,000 among the 147 lawmakers since 1993, state Public Disclosure Records showed.

House Republicans oppose smoking regulations for the same reason they oppose most regulations against business. They argue that more regulations cost money and do little good.

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