States watch Supreme Court online cigarette case

Washington DC - When it comes to restricting cigarette sales in cyberspace, authorities often find their attempts thwarted. Now the US Supreme Court may change one way states like Indiana have tried to fight back.
With hundreds of websites now offering tobacco products online, states don't want to see their ability to regulate online sales of cigarettes to kids snuffed out.
At issue before the Supreme Court is a Maine law requiring delivery companies verify that the cigarettes are not left in the hands of someone underage. Indiana has a similar law. Full Story

State Senator to Propose Only 'Fire Safe' Cigarettes Sold

Indianapolis, Indiana - State lawmakers may change the type of cigarettes that retailers can sell in Indiana.
Senator Jeff Drozda plans to introduce a bill requiring that only so-called "fire-safe" cigarettes be available here.
Those cigarettes have wrappings that make them less likely to set clothing, bedding or anything else on fire if someone leaves them unattended. Full Story

FTC Renews Call for Cigarette Testing

The Federal Trade Commission is once again calling for Congress to consider giving authority over cigarette testing to one of the federal government’s science-based public health agencies.
In testimony before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Commissioner William Kovacic discussed the FTC’s responsibilities in the area of tobacco advertising generally, and specifically explained cigarette testing and the promotion of cigarettes based on machine-measured tar and nicotine yields. Full Story

Congress Aims to Put Out Cigarettes - President promises veto

WASHINGTON - Congress is taking new whacks at the cigarette industry, banning tobacco sales in Senate buildings and - more importantly - seeking a significant federal tax increase on cigarettes.
The industry, once a lobbying behemoth, is quietly working against the tax bill. But it lacks the clout it once wielded.
Several key lawmakers said they have had no recent contacts with tobacco lobbyists. And both houses have signaled a willingness to raise the cigarette tax if other provisions of a children's health bill can be resolved. Full Story

US smokers face threat of being fired

WASHINGTON - Europeans who complain about having to step outside in mid-winter to have a cigarette or not being able to enjoy a quick puff with their espresso should spare a thought for their US counterparts.
In the United States, you can lose your job for lighting up -- even on your own time.
That's what happened to Scott Rodrigues of Massachusetts, and he is suing the Scotts lawncare company for violating his privacy and civil rights.
"It's a freedom thing: 90 percent of Americans support me and in Europe it's more like 100 percent," said Rodrigues, who claims that since he was fired last year he has featured in newspaper articles in Britain and appeared on radio shows in Poland and Lithuania.
A poll published last week showed that most Americans think Rodrigues's firing was unfair. Only seven percent of Americans think employers should be allowed to sack workers who smoke, the survey said. Full story

Democrats want $2-a-pack cigarette tax hike to pay for health care

California - The Democratic leader of the state Assembly announced a final effort Monday to pass a health care overhaul before the end of the year, proposing a $2-a-pack tax on cigarettes to help expand coverage to all 6.8 million uninsured Californians.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, also conceded a major point to Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger by endorsing a mandate that all Californians have health insurance.
Núñez made the concession despite complaints from consumer groups and labor unions that requiring coverage could prove too costly for middle-class families who are uninsured. To soften the blow, Núñez proposed tax credits to help subsidize coverage to families earning as much as $92,000 a year. Full Story

Cigarette Decrease in Oklahoma

Oklahoma - Could some Oklahomans be taking a permanent smoke break? State health officials say since the tobacco tax increased in 2005, there's a decrease in cigarette sales. KTEN's Hailee Holliday reports. Many smokers say it's hard to afford to smoke now-a-days since cigarettes are so expensive, but some say the increase in cigarette prices are like rising gas prices, people will still buy. Full Story

Oregon. Cigarette Tax Rejected

PORTLAND, Oregon - After a campaign marked by record amounts of tobacco industry money pouring into TV advertising, a cigarette tax increase to pay for children's health care was soundly defeated by Oregon voters.
With 67 percent of the expected vote counted Tuesday night, Measure 50 was being rejected by a margin of 60 percent to 40 percent. Among Oregon's 36 counties, the cigarette tax passed only in populous Multnomah County, but was crushed in other places, particularly rural counties. Full Story

RJ Reynolds to Make Only Fire-Safe Cigarettes

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.'s announcement that it will manufacture all of its cigarette brands using fire-safe technology is a victory for all of those interested in public safety, said the National Fire Protection Association and the group it coordinates, the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes.
“Nearly two years ago, we began urging major tobacco companies to switch to this life-saving technology,” said James M. Shannon, NFPA’s president. “While it could have been done sooner, I applaud their action and urge every other tobacco company to do the same. There is no reason everyone in the country shouldn’t have the same protection.” Full Story

Cigarette maker British American Tobacco rolls out soaring profits

LONDON - British American Tobacco, the maker of Dunhill, Kent and Lucky Strike cigarettes, announced Thursday that net profits jumped by more than a third in the three months to the end of September.
Net profit leapt 34.5 percent to 600 million pounds (860 million euros, 1.25 billion dollars) in the third quarter compared with the same period of 2006, BAT said in a results statement. Full Story