But that's exactly the beauty of soft money contributions from the point of view of the corporate donor. They buy access for the company that makes them. They aren't payment for a particular piece of legislation. No, they are more powerful than that because they are so large, and so sought after by the parties. They further the interests of that company on all pieces of legislation.
China is a huge untapped market for cigarettes.
So Philip Morris's soft money contributions open the doors for its lobbyists on this issue, just as they open the doors for its anti-tobacco control arguments. Everyone knows that PNTR is the very top legislative priority for the business community in this country. There is absolutely no dispute about that. The lobbying effort has been extraordinary. And Philip Morris's legislative and lobbying muscle, supported by their huge campaign contributions, have been put at the service of that priority, as well as of its own particular interest in tobacco legislation.