To: Brumar89 who wrote (845144 ) 3/25/2015 3:30:22 PM From: Wharf Rat Read Replies (1) | Respond to The tobacco companies didn't run into problems because they disagreed. It was because they conspired to knowingly hide the truth and present false information to the detriment of a part of the population of our country. The difference now is that the deniers are doing it to the detriment of everybody (and everything) on the face of the earth, and for many generations to come. Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA ) was entered in November 1998, originally between the four largest United States tobacco companies ( Philip Morris Inc. , R. J. Reynolds , Brown & Williamson and Lorillard – the "original participating manufacturers", referred to as the "Majors") and the attorneys general of 46 states. The states settled their Medicaid lawsuits against the tobacco industry for recovery of their tobacco-related health-care costs, and also exempted the companies from private tort liability regarding harm caused by tobacco use. [1] :25 In exchange, the companies agreed to curtail or cease certain tobacco marketing practices , as well as to pay, in perpetuity, various annual payments to the states to compensate them for some of the medical costs of caring for persons with smoking-related illnesses. The money also funds a new anti-smoking advocacy group , called the American Legacy Foundation , that is responsible for such campaigns as The Truth . The settlement also dissolved the tobacco industry groups Tobacco Institute , the Center for Indoor Air Research, and the Council for Tobacco Research. In the MSA, the original participating manufacturers (OPM) agreed to pay a minimum of $206 billion over the first twenty-five years of the agreement.en.wikipedia.org Operation Berkshire is the name of a program initiated in 1976 by seven of the world's major tobacco companies aimed at promoting "controversy" over smoking and disease. [1] Imperial Tobacco , the CEOs of the tobacco companies met in secret in June 1977 in the United Kingdom "to develop a defensive smoking and health strategy, to avoid our countries and/or companies being picked off one by one, with a resultant domino effect." [2] They agreed to create a front organization, the International Committee on Smoking Issues (ICOSI) (renamed the International Tobacco Information Centre , INFOTAB, in 1981), which operated through an internationally coordinated network of national manufacturers' associations to retard measures for tobacco controlen.wikipedia.org WASHINGTON, April 14— The top executives of the seven largest American tobacco companies testified in Congress today that they did not believe that cigarettes were addictive, but that they would rather their own children did not smoke.nytimes.com
