For decades, tobacco companies have misled the public about
the dangers of their products and used deceptive practices to lure children
into a lifelong addiction to tobacco. In 1999, the U.S. Department
of Justice filed a RICO (Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act)
case alleging that for 50 years the tobacco industry has commited
fraud against the American public. The trial, conducted over the past
nine months, ended with closing arguments on June 15.
Intially, a remedy sought by the Department of Justice was
a $5 billion-per-year comprehensive tobacco cessation effort over the next
25 years to help every smoker who wants to quit. However, the trial
ended with a surprise request from the Justice Department that the tobacco companies only
fund a $2 billion per year, five-year smoking cessation program.
The American Lung Association and many other
health organizations are outraged at the unexpected weakening change
in approach. Media accounts suggest that this change may be the result
of tobacco industry influence on senior Justice Department officials.
Please help and send
a letter to President Bush and Attorney General
Gonzales today! A copy of your letter will be sent to your Senators
and Member of Congress too.
Text
of petition:
I am writing to voice my opposition to the weakening changes in remedies proposed
during the closing days of the RICO lawsuit against the tobacco industry. Cutting
the remedy to $2 billion per year for a five-year nationwide stop-smoking program
is woefully inadequate. The Department of Justice's own expert witness testified
that more than $5 billion per year was needed over the next 25 years to help the
45 million already-addicted smokers quit.
The tobacco industry continues to market its lethal products to our children.
This is evidenced by candy-flavored cigarettes and new products with unproven
health claims such as "all of the taste...less of the toxins" and "reduced
carcinogens, premium taste." The industry has increased its marketing expenditures
to a record $12.5 billion -- $34.2 million a day - in 2002, according to the annual
Federal Trade Commission report.
The Justice Department has put forth a strong case against the tobacco industry
and should use this opportunity to hold the industry accountable for its wrongful
behavior and reduce tobacco's terrible toll. I urge you to insist on the strong
remedies recommended by your own expert witnesses, including fundamental reform
of the industry's harmful marketing practices; the establishment of well-funded,
sustained, nationwide programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit;
and financial penalties against the tobacco companies should they continue to
addict our children.
Please put the health of this country before the bottom line of Big Tobacco. I
look forward to hearing from you.
Don't
let Big Tobacco off the hook! Petition Bush and
Gonzales!