Barnes & Nobleinfoseekad

Home
AllPolitics
 

 Home
 News
 Analysis
 Community
 CNN.com

Related Stories
 Tobacco Bill May Not Be Dead Yet(06-08-98)

 Tobacco Bill Stalled Out On The Senate Floor(06-05-98)

 Tobacco Legislation Hangs In The Balance (06-02-98)

 Analysis: Could The Tobacco Deal All Go Up In Smoke? (05-22-98)

 Intense Senate Debate Starts On Tobacco Bill(05-18-98)


Related Sites
 FDA Web site

 The Tobacco Resolution Web site -- the industry's side of the story


Search


  Help

Clinton Says A Tobacco Compromise Still Possible

But a move to end Senate debate fails on 56-42 vote

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, June 9) -- President Bill Clinton said Tuesday he still thinks it is possible the Senate will approve comprehensive tobacco legislation, even as a Democratic move to end debate and force a vote on the $516 billion measure fell short.

Clinton

"I think there may be some developments this evening which will make that possible," Clinton said in an afternoon news conference with South Korean President Kim Dae-jung. "I do believe that the possibility of getting a comprehensive bill out of the Senate is greater now than it was this morning."

But Clinton would not disclose any specifics on the developments.

Earlier Tuesday, the Senate blocked a Democratic attempt to end debate on the tobacco legislation, aimed at discouraging youth smoking by raising the price of cigarettes by $1.10 a pack. There were no signs of compromise at the time.

"There is no movement toward any kind of consensus," Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) told reporters.

Coats

Republicans have attacked the legislation as too expensive, advocating passage of a less costly bill that would include tax breaks for working-class Americans to counteract the increased cost of cigarettes.

The president rejected such proposals. "It's clear that one of the things that will lead to a reduction in teen smoking is making cigarettes more expensive," Clinton said. He added that states and the federal government need to raise funds to help pay for smoking-related medical fees, health research and anti-smoking campaigns.

The vote to end debate -- a necessary prelude to any action on the bill itself -- failed on a 56-42 vote, 18 votes short of the 60 required for cloture.

Daschle

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D) said after the failed vote he planned another cloture vote on Wednesday, and that Democrats will continue to hold votes daily in an effort to push the bill through the Senate.

The measure, which would also grant the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate nicotine as a drug, has been slowed in the last week by intense partisan debate over amendments.

Clinton has threatened to make tobacco an issue in next fall's congressional elections if the bill is not passed.

In Other News

Tuesday, June 9, 1998

Poll: Public Divided On Clinton's Race Initiative
Clinton Says A Tobacco Compromise Still Possible
Committee Picks A New Face For The Dollar Coin
Jordan Testifies Again
Clinton Signs $203 Billion Highway Bill


Archives   |   CQ News   |   TIME On Politics   |   Feedback   |   Help

Copyright © 1998 AllPolitics All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this information is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.
Who we are.