Vacco has essentially immobilized them, at least temporarily. Both the institute and the research organization that Vacco sued were supposed to disappear under the agreement that the state attorneys general reached last year with the tobacco industry. The agreement has not been ratified by Congress, but under its terms, the industry would be allowed to replace the institute, its primary lobbying and public relations arm, with another organization, provided 20 percent of its new board of directors come from outside the industry. The appointment of a receiver to oversee the institute caught its officials by surprise, Lauria said. But he said the organization is not about to give up or leave the tobacco industry without a voice in Washington.
Every trade association does that.
Click here to post a public comment on the Trash Talk Bulletin Board. Click here to send a private comment to the Junkman. Material presented on this home page constitutes opinion of the author. All rights reserved. Site developed and hosted by WestLake Solutions, Inc .