Not so long ago tobacco companies would come together, agree on a strategy and quash any undesirable bill in Congress or at the state level.
Like the National Rifle Association and National Beer Wholesalers Association, Big Tobacco and its smaller colleagues could stifle virtually any proposal it deemed harmful. And when necessary, such as the Master Settlement Agreement, they would find an acceptable compromise
How things have changed. In a matter of months SCHIP prevailed rather easily, yielding an unprecedented levy across all tobacco segments; and the president, with overwhelming support in Congress, authorized the FDA to oversee this historically unregulated industry.
Blame the Democrats? Too easy.
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