WASHINGTON, July 15 (UPI) -- Proponents of greater federal regulation of tobacco gained a major victory Thursday when the U.S. Senate approved legislation providing the authority.
The provision was combined with another measure enabling a $12 billion buyout of the depression-era federal quota system for tobacco farmers, creating an odd alliance of tobacco-state Senators and anti-smoking advocates to get each side's agenda approved.
Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, who sponsored the measure allowing the Food and Drug Administration greater power over the sale and marketing of tobacco products with Health, Education, Labor and Pensions ranking member Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., called the unexpected deal a "shotgun marriage" that makes sense.
The measures were combined as part of a deal to move forward with House-Senate negotiations over stalled corporate tax legislation, which the body also approved.
Although the House version of the bill includes a tobacco buyout, the FDA regulation provision was not included and the House Republican leadership remains opposed to the further regulation of tobacco, making the prospects for the FDA provision uncertain.
The House also approved a measure Tuesday blocking implementation of the House's taxpayer-sponsored buyout, which opponents successfully argued was unwise in a year where the federal deficit is expected to top a record, in dollar terms, of $400 billion.
Unlike the $9.6 billion House version, the Senate's buyout is funded by a tax on manufacturers of tobacco products.
