Report: States Slacking on Anti-Smoking Spending

Staff / Truthdig Dec 10, 2009 According to a consortium of anti-smoking organizations, U.S. state governments are raking in more money than ever from tobacco companies but aren't spending as much as they had in recent years on preventing their constituents from starting to light up or on helping them quit. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Adult Cigarette Smoking Rate Rose in 2008

Staff / Truthdig Nov 13, 2009 Blame it on the recession? Cigarette smoking among American adults had been on the decline for about 15 years, but in 2008 the smoking rate rose, bumping up slightly from 19.8 percent the previous year to just under 21 percent, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Poster Addict for Tobacco Law

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Jun 25, 2009 It's all right to be just a bit defensive when you're the addict in chief, but President Obama happens to be, hands down, the best possible spokesman for the new FDA regulation. He should embrace the role. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Congress OKs Anti-Smoking Bill

Staff / Truthdig Jun 12, 2009 Congress gave final approval to a bill that gives the federal government far-reaching power to try to decrease smoking in the U.S. Positioned to be much more effective than those stupid tobacco company-sponsored "Truth" commercials, the bill would limit nicotine levels and use of words like mild and light. Updated Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Hillary’s Replacement Is Smokin’

Staff / Truthdig Mar 27, 2009 Forgive that pun, but it is clear that Kirsten Gillibrand, junior senator from New York, played an important role in fending off the Justice Department as it sought internal research conducted by Philip Morris that proved a connection between cigarettes and cancer -- a causation rebuked by tobacco executives in testimony before Congress in 1994. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

It’s Time to Put the Clamps on Tobacco

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Mar 17, 2009 An idea that has been around for years now has reached that rarest of moments: There is a political environment that should, if reason prevails, produce legislation to require the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

The Smoke Is Clearing

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Nov 25, 2008 This week marks a decade since a consortium of state attorneys general negotiated the landmark settlement of lawsuits against tobacco companies. The results are in: Cigarette consumption has declined by 28 percent in the past 10 years. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Regulating Cigarettes, at Last

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Aug 14, 2008 Congress is known for leaving business unfinished, but rarely is a task left undone for more than four decades. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Republicans Defend Big Tobacco From Sick Children

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Jul 31, 2007 In keeping with Oscar Wilde's adage that one cannot be too careful in the choice of enemies, congressional Democrats have chosen wisely and well. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Tobacco Marketing Leaves Women Seeing Red

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Apr 17, 2007 We've come a long way from seeing ourselves as oh-so-sexy holding a slim cigarette -- all the way to seeing red. Red, the color of angry outrage, could be just the thing to blot out Big Tobacco's latest campaign to hook young women on cigarettes by dressing up death in fuchsia and teal. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Forget Big Tobacco — Big Food Kills

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Mar 29, 2007 If we are what we eat and we eat what is advertised, then American children are facing death by junk food. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Corporate Donations Shift Left

Staff / Truthdig Jun 20, 2006 Companies in the insurance, pharmaceuticals and tobacco industries are boosting their share of contributions to Democrats this year, an indication that the traditionally Republican-friendly donors suspect Dems may soon end up holding the reins of power. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )