Pearce Vote on Tobacco Bill Reprehensible
August 11, 2008
Steve Pearce’s recent vote against the Federal Tobacco Regulation bill which was supported by the the other New Mexico Congressmen is reprehensible. However, companies like RJ Reynolds, Altria Group and US Smokeless Tobacco have put thousands of dollars in his pocket. This important legislation will allow the Federal Drug Administration to regulate cigarette content, require product disclosure and most importantly ban cigarette marketing to children. A report was issued by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids that describes in detail how tobacco manufacturers take advantage of the lack of government regulation to market products to entice new youth users of tobacco. In New Mexico tobacco use causes $461 million in health care bills each year and kills 2,100 residents; 25.7 percent of New Mexico high school students currently smoke.
Now Congressman Pearce pays back his tobacco campaign contributors. In fact Altria has been recruiting new farmers with financial assistance in New Mexico and other states. “U.S. tobacco is really the backbone of our blends,” says Philip Morris USA, a unit of Altria Group Inc. “Our job is to ensure we have a stable supply of U.S. tobacco to meet current and future needs.” I am sure Mr. Pearce agrees with the tobacco companies. Mr. Pearce does not represent the true values of the people of New Mexico, who care about the health of their children.
Greg Lennes
Las Cruces
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