Anti-Tobacco Lawmakers Form Task Force

Fearing that a sweeping settlement with tobacco companies will probably favor the industry, nine anti-smoking leaders in Congress announced creation of a public health task force to advise lawmakers on the essential components of an acceptable deal with the $50-billion industry. Dr. C. Everett Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General, and Dr. David Kessler, former head of the Food and Drug Administration, will co-chair the advisory panel, according to a letter from the congressmen to 11 public health groups they asked to take part. During the last two months, tobacco representatives, state attorneys general and private anti-tobacco lawyers have been engaged in intensive negotiations aimed at resolving the vast legal and regulatory problems that have engulfed the industry. Any deal emerging from the secret talks would include some limits on future suits against the industry, and therefore would need approval from Congress and the White House. But while tobacco companies are thought to have made big concessions as the talks have progressed, some anti-smoking groups and lawmakers have complained that crucial issues are not being discussed--such as cigarette exports and the issue of secondhand smoke.