Tobacco.org

• Veto Seems More Likely in Battle Over Tobacco Bill * E-Mail * Print * Reprints * Save * Share o Linkedin o Digg o Facebook o Mixx 

In its sharpest criticism yet of the tobacco legislation pending in Congress, the Bush administration has said it “strongly” opposes the effort to give the Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority over tobacco.

In a letter, Michael O. Leavitt, the secretary of health and human services, said a smoking bill could overextend the F.D.A.

The criticism came Monday in a letter by Michael O. Leavitt, the secretary of health and human services, which some saw as a signal that a veto would be likely if the legislation cleared the House and Senate.

The letter was sent to Joe L. Barton of Texas, the highest-ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which approved the bill in April. Mr. Barton voted against the bill. . . .

“This could result in diverting personnel and resources from current programs within the F.D.A., with the potential to seriously undermine the public health,” the letter said.

Furthermore “adding tobacco to F.D.A.’s regulatory responsibilities could also leave the public with the misperception that tobacco products are safe, or at least safer, with the F.D.A. regulating them,” the letter said, predicting a “perverse and unintended consequence of lowering the perceived risk of tobacco.” . . .

In voicing concern about the menthol exemption, the administration finds itself on the side of black antismoking advocates who have criticized the bill.

Jump to full article »