Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Impeach George W. Bush -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: zonkie who wrote (2675)	4/25/2001 6:30:17 PM
From: Mephisto	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 93284

The only surprise was that the country was Argentina! Now, I hear the police can arrest you if you don't have your seat belt on, if you litter or just because they don't like the way you look! The right-wingers on the Supreme Court are at it again. Sandra O'Connor really wants to be, Lady MacBeth or should I say Lady MacDeath!

To: zonkie who wrote (2675)	4/25/2001 6:33:23 PM
From: Mephisto	Respond to of 93284

Bush Budget May Cripple Tobacco Lawsuit, Memo Warns "The lawsuit was brought in 1999 with the strong support of then-President Bill Clinton. But some Republicans in Congress have sought to cut off funding for the lawsuit, President Bush questioned it as a candidate and ASHCROFT also OPPOSED the litigation when he was in the Senate". Wednesday April 25 3:16 PM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Justice Department lawyers handling the government's massive lawsuit against the tobacco industry have warned that insufficient funding may force them to drop the case, officials said on Wednesday. Department officials said the lawyers, in a memo sent last month to Attorney General John Ashcroft , expressed concern about how the case could proceed without adequate funds. The Bush administration's proposed budget does not provide enough money, they said. Ashcroft has been reviewing whether to proceed with the litigation. Justice Department spokeswoman Susan Dryden said he has yet to make a decision about the case. The Bush administration has asked Congress for $1.8 million to pay salaries and staff costs for the tobacco litigation team. But the team reportedly estimated it would need more than $57 million this year to keep working on the case. The officials said Congress once again could redirect the funds necessary for the lawsuit to continue. Under the racketeering claims brought by the Justice Department, the lawsuit seeks to force the tobacco firms to give up ``ill-gotten'' profits obtained through fraud and deceit since the 1950s. The lawsuit was brought in 1999 with the strong support of then-President Bill Clinton. But some Republicans in Congress have sought to cut off funding for the lawsuit, President Bush questioned it as a candidate and Ashcroft also opposed the litigation when he was in the Senate. The defendants are Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., Loews Corp's Lorillard Tobacco Co. Inc., Vector Group Ltd's . Liggett Group Inc., the Council for Tobacco Research U.S.A. Inc. and the Tobacco Institute Inc. The case is scheduled to go to trial on July 15, 2003. dailynews.yahoo.com

To: zonkie who wrote (2675)	4/25/2001 6:37:40 PM
From: Mephisto	Respond to of 93284

John Ashcroft was worried about imposing high taxes on low-income smokers when he voted against a program to discourage teen-age smoking, the Cabinet nominee said in written responses to the Senate Judiciary Committee. By LIBBY QUAID, Associated Press Writer , Jan. 28, 2001 dailynews.yahoo.com (Old URL)