Public health advocates such as former surgeon general C. Everett Koop and former Food and Drug Administration chief David Kessler said the pact was too easy on the cigarette makers. Then came the tobacco farmers, who fear economic losses as smoking declines, and the convenience stores, which fear sales losses as cigarette advertising is restricted. Advertising agencies don't like restrictions on billboards. And the auto-racing industry is concerned about the loss of a major sponsor. In short, the pact affects dozens of interest groups, most of which employ lobbyists seeking to get the best deal they can for their clients.
Money is no small part of the story about why the settlement is so tenuous.
There's a lot at stake. As all the competing forces have fought for Clinton's ear, the White House review of the settlement has dragged on longer than expected. The review has been led by Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, an ex-smoker who is deeply suspicious of the tobacco companies and would like to punish them, and Clinton domestic policy chief Bruce Reed. After getting his advisers' conflicting recommendations, Clinton is expected to come out this week in favor of a settlement. But he's expected to condition his approval on certain changes being incorporated.