SERVING MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL / MINNESOTA

MinnPost.com Job Listing of the Day!
MinnPost.com Job Listing of the Day!

Browse
Minnesota Jobs
Direct from Company Websites!
Unadvertised,
Current,
Highest-quality

Start Searching Now!

 







 

D.C. Dispatches by Cynthia Dizikes

  • Switch to Small Text Size
  • Switch to Medium Text Size
  • Switch to Large Text Size
Recommend to a friend Print Submit a Comment

    Senate passes bill allowing FDA to regulate tobacco industry

    By Cynthia Dizikes | Published Thu, Jun 11 2009 3:46 pm

    WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar joined an overwhelming majority of the Senate today in passing the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Act, which institutes unprecedented regulation over the tobacco industry.

    The bipartisan measure, approved by 79-17, would allow the Food and Drug Administration to ban the most harmful chemicals in tobacco products and reduce the amount of nicotine.  The legislation also requires the tobacco industry to disclose ingredients, expand the size of warning labels and include images of the health effects of tobacco.

    The bill is similar to a version that passed in the House last month and has the support of President Obama -- himself a smoker who has struggled to quit.

    The House, which passed its version 298-112, has indicated it will vote on the Senate version next week.

    At the time, Democratic Reps. Tim Walz, Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison and Jim Oberstar voted for the bill, along with Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen. Republican Reps. John Kline and Michele Bachmann voted against the measure, along with Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson.

    Like what you just read? Support high-quality journalism in Minnesota by becoming a member of MinnPost.

    Advertisement:

    0 Comments: Hide/Show Comments

    0 Comment: Hide/Show Comment

    0 Comments:

    E-mail address

    Password

     

    Forgot Password? | Register to Comment

    MinnPost does not permit the use of foul language, personal attacks or the use of language that may be libelous or interpreted as inciting hate or sexual harassment. User comments are reviewed by moderators to ensure that comments meet these standards and adhere to MinnPost's terms of use and privacy policy.

    We intend for this area to be used by our readers as a place for civil, thought-provoking and high-quality public discussion. In order to achieve this, MinnPost requires that all commenters register and post comments with their actual names and place of residence. Register here to comment.

    MinnPost illustration by Hugh Bennewitz


    minnpost.com/cynthiadizikes



    Cynthia Dizikes is MinnPost's Washington, D.C., correspondent and covers Minnesota's congressional delegation and reports on developments out of Washington that are important to Minnesota readers. She received her master's degree in journalism from UC Berkeley and has worked as an intern in the Los Angeles Times' Washington bureau, reporting on a variety of topics, and as a reporter for the Anniston Star in Alabama. Her work has also appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, the Oakland Tribune, Congress Daily and on National Public Radio. She can be reached at cdizikes [at] minnpost [dot] com.

    Recently published posts by Cynthia Dizikes