The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TOBACCO” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Senate section on pages S6723-S6724 on June 16, 2005.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TOBACCO
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, this morning's reports on the Justice Department's tobacco case are deeply disturbing for all Americans concerned about the health of their children. The Justice Department memos obtained by reporters show that high-level Bush administration political appointees overruled professional lawyers in the case in slashing damages the tobacco companies would be required to pay. There is no clearer example of this administration's view that Government and the courts should protect big corporations first and real people last. Whether it is global warning or Iraq or tobacco, their view is that the facts should never be allowed to get in the way of their rightwing politics.
There are few initiatives that would have a greater impact on the health of our children than smoking prevention. No parent in America ever says, ``I hope my child grows up to be a smoker.'' Parents know that every child we prevent from smoking will have a healthier, fuller, happier life.
That is what this lawsuit was all about--requiring big tobacco companies to pay for antismoking programs.
I urge the President to intervene with his Justice Department. They made a political decision to back big tobacco. Now the President should make the responsible decision to back America's families.
If the tobacco companies do not pay for their misdeeds, then our families will pay with more cancer, more illness, and shortened lives.
From a public interest perspective, the worst thing would be for the Justice Department to settle with the tobacco companies based upon the weak and inadequate demand that DOJ made to the court last week. At this point, we have far more confidence that the court will do the right thing than the Justice Department will do the right thing. The court has the authority to look beyond the Justice recommendations and to order strong remedies based on the evidence presented at the trial. We should let the court decide.
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