FOR RELEASE: April 26, 2001

Evans Critical of Bush Administration Decision

“Funding Needed to Continue Legal Action Against Tobacco Industry for Deceptive Marketing Practices; Additional Funds for Veterans Programs Could be Lost”

Washington, DC - Calling a Bush Administration failure to fund the Department of Justice’s ongoing efforts to pursue litigation against the Tobacco Industry “bad judgment”, the Democratic leader of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Lane Evans (D-IL) said funding to continue the lawsuit was, “clearly in the public interest.”   The President’s budget added no funding to continue litigation began under the Clinton Administration which seeks damages from five major tobacco companies for racketeering practices. 

“We cannot, in good conscience, let big tobacco off the hook for willfully and knowingly deceiving the American people, as well as lying to Congress for almost half a century”, said Evans.  “The Bush Administration should request the needed funds and I urge them to do so now as Congress is considering the federal budget for next year.  Without funding for the litigation staff to move the lawsuit forward, the Bush Administration is giving big tobacco a ‘get out of jail free card’, ” Evans said.

Last year, Congress was successful in passing legislation to transfer funds from several federal agencies to ensure that the Justice Department’s Tobacco Litigation Team was funded.  Evans won approval in the House to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs was able to transfer $4 million in funds to the Justice Department.  

U.S. District Court Judge Gladys Kessler ruled that government would not be able to pursue the costs of health care delivery to its beneficiaries with tobacco-related illnesses.  While this part of the lawsuit was dismissed, billions of dollars might still be sought by the Federal Government for the false statements tobacco companies have made about the addictive properties of nicotine and other additives.  Potentially, federal agencies, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, might stand to gain from any funds awarded in a successful lawsuit. 

“While it is disappointing, it is not surprising that the Bush Administration has chosen to side with big tobacco, not the American public,” Evans added.  “President Bush has failed to exercise his leadership by not calling on Congress to provide the needed funding.  Instead he has treated tobacco litigation funding like a hot potato and decided to try to duck the issue.     It’s a cop out to kill this suit without admitting you’re killing it.” 

Evans stated he would work closely with Democrats and Republicans who  supported transferring funds from agencies to support Justice’s efforts in pursuit of the tobacco funds last year.  “There is clearly a lot of support in Congress for holding the Tobacco Industry accountable for its past misdeeds.  Since the buck did not stop with the President, I am hopeful it will stop here.”    

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