Letter To Pres. Bush: Don't let Big Tobacco off the hook!

December 05, 2005 07:57 AM

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Subject: Don't let Big Tobacco off the hook!


Dear President Bush:

I am writing to voice my opposition to the weakening changes in remedies proposed during the closing days of the RICO lawsuit against the tobacco industry. Cutting the remedy to $2 billion per year for a five-year nationwide stop-smoking program is woefully inadequate. The Department of Justice's own expert witness testified that more than $5 billion per year was needed over the next 25 years to help the 45 million already-addicted smokers quit.

The tobacco industry continues to market its lethal products to our children. This is evidenced by candy-flavored cigarettes and new products with unproven health claims such as "all of the taste...less of the toxins" and "reduced carcinogens, premium taste." The industry has increased its marketing expenditures to a record $12.5 billion -- $34.2 million a day - in 2002, according to the annual Federal Trade Commission report.

The Justice Department has put forth a strong case against the tobacco industry and should use this opportunity to hold the industry accountable for its wrongful behavior and reduce tobacco's terrible toll. I urge you to insist on the strong remedies recommended by your own expert witnesses, including fundamental reform of the industry's harmful marketing practices; the establishment of well-funded, sustained, nationwide programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit; and financial penalties against the tobacco companies should they continue to addict our children.

Please put the health of this country before the bottom line of Big Tobacco. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Charlotte Bowman

cc:

Senator Lindsey Graham
Representative John Spratt
Senator Jim Demint
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales