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Tobacco Lobby Battles Pta Bill In House Legislation Would Limit Minors’ Access; Subcommittee To Draft More Changes

The tobacco industry gained ground Tuesday in its fight to derail a bill that would make it tougher for minors to get tobacco.

After two days of debate and attempts to kill the bill, the House State Affairs Committee settled on amending the legislation, which has sparked controversy this session.

“They said it was like a freight train running and I’d better get out of the way,” Tobacco Institute lobbyist Bill Roden said.

But Roden and other opponents aren’t budging.

Before sending the bill to the full House, a five-member subcommittee will draft changes which the full committee must approve. Once on the House floor, all 70 lawmakers will have a chance to amend the bill.

This isn’t the first time the measure, sponsored by the Idaho Parent-Teacher Association, has gotten a face lift.

Last month in a compromise with angry retailers, the PTA scrapped its plans for a $50 annual license fee. The current version would require tobacco sellers to get a permit at no expense. Because the measure carries a $250,000 price tag for enforcement costs, the state Department of Health and Welfare would have until next year to find money for the program.

The bill also would require retailers to place tobacco products out of customers’ reach, would ban tobacco vending machines and would fine employees who sell tobacco to minors.

PTA member Caryn Epslin pleaded with lawmakers not to water down the bill, which she believes would prevent Idaho children from becoming tobacco addicts. Epslin said she hopes the subcommittee tweaks the bill’s language without gutting its contents.

Sen. Jack Riggs, R-Coeur d’Alene, accused the tobacco lobby of trying to mislead committee members. Last year, Riggs received a $500 campaign contribution from RJ Reynolds and $200 from Roden, who also is a drug company lobbyist.

“My impression is this is an attempt to confuse you,” Riggs said. “There is one main issue here and that’s minor access.”

Roden called the bill misguided and said it would create big government instead of limiting minors’ access to tobacco. He said the bill would turn the state Health and Welfare Department into a “tobacco nanny” and would set a precedent to further burden Idaho retailers.

“This is just the beginning,” Roden said, adding that he’s certain lawmakers will hit tobacco retailers with license fees next session.

Both the PTA and the tobacco lobby expected the fiercest fight to erupt in the House committee.

“We always knew this would be our battle,” Epslin said. “Knowing they (tobacco companies) had more support here, they pulled out all the guns.”

Last week, the bill flew through the Senate, 30-5, with strong words of support from Senate President Jerry Twiggs, R-Blackfoot. Roden said Twiggs’ support and his seat on the Senate State Affairs Committee quashed any chance of amending the bill in the Senate. “The House is taking a much more open approach,” he said.

As parents, teenage smokers and other supporters praised the bill, retailers and vending machine owners lined up in opposition.

But Epslin argued that the bill is drawing opposition because it has proved successful in other states.

“This works,” she said. “This is why the tobacco industry does not want this law.”

Roden said he applauds limiting minors’ access to tobacco, but he said the measure neglects the fact that youths get tobacco from parents and friends. Until parents and law officers take more responsibility, no law is adequate, he said.

Rep. June Judd, D-St. Maries, said she is worried the bill would cause North Idaho retailers to lose business to Indian reservation smoke shops, which would be exempt from the law.

Judd received no campaign contributions from the tobacco industry last year.

Rep. Jeff Alltus, R-Hayden, will serve on the subcommittee. He also received no campaign contributions from the tobacco industry last year.

The Senate must approve whatever changes the House makes to the bill.

“I really like what we’re trying to do, but I think we need to make sure what we’re doing is done correctly,” Alltus said. “There’s no intent to water down this legislation.”

, DataTimes