Feature Article

Thus far in the 2005-2006 election cycle, the tobacco industry has made more than $1.1 million in political contributions to federal candidates, political parties, and political action committees (PACs), according a report released last month by the Campaign for Tobacco -Free Kids (TFK) and Common Cause.  The full text of the report can be downloaded here.

The report also found that the tobacco industry spent more than $23 million to lobby the U.S. Congress last year, which amounts to more than $173,000 each day that Congress was in session.  During the 2004 election, the tobacco industry – in addition to contributing millions to candidates and “527” advocacy groups – donated substantial funding to both the Republican and Democratic national conventions.  The tobacco companies spending the most to protect their political interests are generally Altria (parent company of Phillip Morris), R.J. Reynolds, and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco .

Since 1997, Ohio's congressional delegation has accepted nearly $200,000 in direct campaign contributions from the tobacco industry.  Twelve of Ohio 's eighteen House members have accepted tobacco industry funding, including all Republican members except for Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Navarre).  The only Democrat to accept tobacco industry funding has been Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-Cleveland).  The Ohio House member who has accepted the greatest amount of funding from the tobacco industry is Rep. John Boehner (R-West Chester).

Both U.S. Senators from Ohio have accepted relatively small amounts of funding from the tobacco industry; $7000 by Sen. George Voinovich and $1000 by Sen. Mike DeWine.  Sen. DeWine is co-sponsor of a Senate measure that would provide the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with authority to regulate the tobacco industry.  The FDA bill is supported by both TFK and Altria/Phillip Morris (which recently contributed $1000 to Sen. DeWine).  It is opposed by most of the rest of the tobacco industry.  The FDA bill passed the Senate in 2004 but was not voted upon by the House.

Given the millions of dollars that the tobacco industry spends to protect its political interests, it should come as no surprise that there has been no recent progress in efforts to strengthen tobacco regulation at the federal level.   The report by TFK and Common Cause concluded that “Congressional votes and bill sponsorships dating back to 1997 reveal a clear relationship between tobacco money and tobacco votes, with opponents of the public health position receiving anywhere from 2.5 to 177 times as much money from the tobacco industry as legislators who sided with the public health community.”