SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- If recent media reports are
right, Michigan's Attorney General Frank Kelley should receive a draft of a
proposed tobacco settlement by noon on Friday, and must, by the following
Tuesday, decide if he wants to continue Michigan's lawsuit against the tobacco
industry to recover Medicaid costs or agree to the tobacco settlement.
    "A settlement of this magnitude that will set public policy and settle
legal claims must be given more than just a few days to consider.  We cannot
afford to rush any decisions made with the tobacco industry.  Secrecy is very
dangerous when you consider the tobacco industry's past," said Jim Moore,
spokesperson for the American Lung Association of Michigan.
    "Public disclosure of the proposed settlement must be made, with adequate
time to read the fine print.  Public health must be the only consideration in
a tobacco settlement.  The settlement must not offer immunity to Big Tobacco,
the FDA must be granted the authority to regulate nicotine as a drug and there
must be built-in ramifications if tobacco companies fail to curb teen
smoking," continued Moore.
    The tobacco settlement is said to be worth up to $200 billion, depending
on the number of states that agree.  "If Michigan should decide to forego the
lawsuit and go along with the settlement, the public health community must be
permitted to use a substantial portion of the money in an effort to reduce
tobacco use, and assist in helping addicted smokers to quit," concluded Moore.

Link to this page: