It would give immunity from future punitive liability to cigarette makers and set advertising and marketing restrictions. The settlement does not specifically call for tax increases. Vice President Al Gore joined Conrad as the measure was unveiled this week. The tobacco industry blasted the Conrad measure as a deal-breaker and threatened to back out of its settlement agreement. Sen. Jim Jeffords, R-Vt., chairman of the Senate Labor and Human Resources committee, offered a measure partially addressing the settlement but not including taxes.
Republican leaders have yet to offer their proposal.
Settlement legislation has been stalled since last summer as neither political party in Congress, nor the White House, proposed a specific measure. Aides said the administration will not offer its proposed legislation but instead will work with the Senate Democratic measure. Elena Kagan, deputy domestic policy adviser, said the administration wants a comprehensive measure passed this year. She also said the administration was willing to negotiate on the immunity from liability. The president later attended a fund-raising dinner for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.