31 July 2008

They Voted For You: Tobacco

U.S. Reps. Alan Mollohan, D-1st; Shelley Moore Capito, R-2nd; and Nick Rahall, D-3rd, all helped the House pass the "Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act."

The 326-102 vote advances legislation "that for the first time would subject the tobacco industry to regulation by federal health authorities charged with promoting public well-being," The Associated Press reports.

"The bill would further tighten restrictions on tobacco advertising and impose new federal penalties for selling to minors," the article said. "But its most far-reaching provisions would give the Food and Drug Administration the power to regulate tobacco, from cigarettes to new kinds of smokeless products."

AP also reports that "while the bill appears to have enough support to pass this year, it's unclear whether the Senate will have time to act, and the Bush administration issued a veto threat Wednesday."

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