MINNEAPOLIS, January 9, 2008—The U.S. Congress and President George W. Bush have quashed efforts to regulate tobacco and discourage smoking, a report from the American Lung Association says. And states are not doing nearly enough win the fight. 

ALA suggested that heavy lobbying and spending by tobacco companies was winning over many politicians, and it urged Congress to empower the Food and Drug Administration to regulate cigarettes as if they were drugs.

"While many states have failed to make meaningful progress at protecting their most vulnerable citizens, the tobacco companies are spending billions of dollars annually marketing their deadly products," the report reads.

"A report issued by Common Cause and the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund found that the tobacco industry made almost $3 million in Political Action Committee contributions to federal candidates during the 2005-2006 election cycle, including more than $1.7 million in contributions directly to federal candidates," it adds.

"While the American Lung Association applauds the U.S. Congress for increasing the federal cigarette excise tax by $0.61 to $1.00 per pack, unfortunately it was vetoed by the president and will not take effect," the report read.

Minnesota was one state set aside for praise. "In 2007, seven states -- Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Oregon and Tennessee -- significantly strengthened their smoke-free air laws. Tennessee is the first traditional tobacco-growing state to pass strong restrictions on smoking in public places and workplaces."

But most states have been reluctant to raise tobacco taxes, and they don't spend enough to prevent smoking and to help smokers kick the habit, the report said.

Reuters news story