Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb, both Democrats of Virginia, indicated this week they planned to support the legislation, which for the first time would create a federal regulatory framework for the tobacco industry.
So too has Richmond, Va.-based Philip Morris USA, a unit of Altria Group [image-nocss] Inc., New York, the largest player in the U.S. cigarette market. The company has broken with its rivals and become a strong supporter of FDA regulation of the industry.
Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), and Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), on the other hand, are opposed to the legislation and are trying to drag out the Senate's extension of the bill for as long as possible. The Tar Heel state's biggest tobacco companiesWinston-Salem-based R.J. Reynolds, a unit of Reynolds American Inc., and Greensboro-based Lorillard Inc.are opposed to the FDA legislation.
The Senate began debating the bill Tuesday, but due to Burr and Hagan's delaying tactics, it may not conclude consideration of it until next week. The two are unlikely to be able to stop the bill, but can effectively force a delay of its passage.
Warner (pictured,bottom left) and Webb (top left) are open about the fact that their support for the bill is at least in part due to the fact that Altria is also in favor of it. "We're listening to people from across the board including the people who are in the business," Webb told the news agency. "From the Virginia perspective, people have become comfortable with the idea of regulation and the stability that comes with it."
Warner said he has been active with Altria for some time. When he was Virginia governor, he said, he worked to convince the company to move its corporate headquarters back to Virginia. "They've been out in front of this for a long time," Warner said.
For its part, Altria said it has spoken to a number lawmakers about the issue. William Phelps, an Altria spokesperson, declined to comment on whether there is any connection between the company's support for the legislation and the two lawmakers'.
Even Hagan (top right) seemed to accept the fact that the Virginians' support is largely due to Altria's position on the issue. "I think it has to do with the fact that the industry of Virginia is supporting this bill," Hagan said when asked about the fact that Warner and Webb support the legislation while she is opposed.
Only Burr (top left), long an opponent of FDA regulation of the tobacco industry, denies there is any connection between his position and that of the tobacco companies in his state. "I've never suggested that I was against this because of the companies," Burr told Dow Jones.
A spokesperson for Lorillard declined to comment to the news agency when asked about the company's position and that of North Carolina's two senators.
Burr and Hagan are not completely opposed to regulation of the industry, said the report; they are simply against legislation giving the authority to the FDA to do so. Rather, as has been reported in CSP Daily News, they want to see a separate entity created within the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) that would be tasked solely with oversight of the tobacco industry.
"This could be a devastating thing to an agency that the American people see as a gold standard," Burr said, referring to the prospect of the FDA assuming regulatory authority over the industry.
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