ALEC promoting smokeless tobacco

http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/07/10787/alec-and-tobacco-industry";htt...

So far, we have seen proposals and resolutions related to harm reduction that take a variety of strategies in different states:
Smokeless tobacco tax:
<ul;
<li;Kentucky: &nbsp;With its tax increase in 2005, language was also added that the General Assembly agreed that "Taxing tobacco products according to relative risk is a rational tax policy..."</li;
<li;Indiana: &nbsp;Language in tax code was added in 2011 when the moist snuff tax was changed, stating that the "general assembly finds that the tax rate on smokeless tobacco should reflect the relative risk between such products and cigarettes."</li;
</ul;
Studying harm reduction:
<ul;
<li;Indiana: &nbsp;Senate resolution passed in 2012 to establish a committee to study harm reduction strategies for the legislature</li;
<li;Kansas: &nbsp;House resolution proposed in 2012, but did not pass, to direct the KS Department of Health and Environment to study harm reduction using existing resources</li;
<li;South Carolina: &nbsp;2012 proposal (did not pass) to divert some revenues from the 2010 cigarette tax increase to fund a study on harm reduction</li;
</ul;
Recognizing harm reduction:
<ul;
<li;Nebraska: &nbsp;Legislative resolution passed in 2012 recognizing "the importance of tobacco harm reduction strategies as an additional policy choice to assist cigarette smokers in quitting."</li;
</ul;
Here is a link to the resolution proposed by Rep. Niederhauser at the May 2012 ALEC meeting in Charlotte, NC, posted by Common Cause. &nbsp;The resolution is on pg. 13-14: &nbsp;http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD442989366...
Please email me at mailto:[email protected]";aboonn@tobaccofreekids.org if you hear of additional proposals or resolutions not listed above.
Thank you!
&nbsp;
Ann Boonn, MPH
Associate Director, Research,&nbsp;Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

RJ Reynolds pushed for a harm reduction resolution last year in the Kansas House of Representatives. I am not aware of any involvement by ALEC, but wouldn't be surprised.

Very interesting development, and interesting timing considering they just started to weigh in on the&nbsp;http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jul/15/cigarettes-plain-packets-a... target="_blank";Plain Packaging issue in the UK. US Chamber of Commerce also intervened in the&nbsp;http://www.nftc.org/newsflash/newsflash.asp?Mode=View&id=236&articleid=3... target="_blank";New Zealand plain packaging consultations...
We all know corporations have been using corporate-funded free-market front groups to promote their interests domestically for decades, but intervening abroad could be new.&nbsp;
John Stewart
Corporate Accountability International

The action of ALEC amounts to bribery - pure and simple. They're going around the public health organizations and agencies to avoid the health issues. This is truly despicable behavior.

I'd like to know who the Utah legislator was that is pushing for this. &nbsp;Is this public record somewhere?

Here is a copy of a recent article that indicates Rep. Niederhauser's involvement with a resolution at the ALEC national meeting. http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/54485756-90/alec-utah-legislation-... &nbsp;

Here is a summary of information presented by participants in the ALEC meeting in support of smokeless tobacco:
&nbsp;
- Dr. Brad Rodu presented his studies that said that moving people to
smokeless tobacco would eliminate 98 percent of the risk associated
with smoking and be a good public policy move. He said states should
structure their tobacco taxes in a way to reflect
that risk. He also said that state agencies should provide information
to people that accurately reflects the reduced risk of smokeless
tobacco.
&nbsp;
- Former U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer of Indiana said that agencies are
lying to smokers about the risk and compared it to sex education, saying
that while abstinence is preferable, risk control is better than the
"quit or die" approach.
&nbsp;
- Sen. Niederhauser presented an ALEC resolution urging states to
enact tax policies that reflect the comparative risks and that states
provide accurate information about the harms of smokeless tobacco and
cigarettes.
&nbsp;
These policy positions are concerning given the lack of credible, independent evidence to suggest that smokeless/dissolvable products have decreased harmful effects or that they have any efficacy as cessation products. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
Is anyone aware of Dr. Rodu's funding sources?

The list of major corporations severing ties with right-wing public policy group American Legislative Exchange Council continues to grow with Thursday's announcement that General Motors and Walgreen Co. <a rel="new tab" href="http://perfectlondonescorts.co.uk";london

Hi John - ALEC have also lobbied the Australian government - see this article&nbsp;I've just had published:
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/2012/08/08/what-have-the-tobacco-and-...
Marita
&nbsp;

A simple search on his name in the Legacy Tobacco Documents Library turns up http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/search/basic;jsessionid=570CDA5B17... target="_blank";hundeds of documents.

&nbsp;
"Dr. Rodu is supported by unrestricted grants from the US Smokeless Tobacco Company and Swedish Match AB to the University of Louisville."
http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/3/1/37" title="http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/3/1/37";http://www.harmreduc...
And, more recently:
"Mar 18, 2013 – Dr. Rodu's research is supported by unrestricted grants from tobacco manufacturers to the University of Louisville . . ."
http://www.bgdsky.org/March%202013%20Newsletter.pdf" title="http://www.bgdsky.org/March%202013%20Newsletter.pdf";http://www.bgdsky.o...
Of course Professor Rodu&nbsp;claims that the funding is unrestricted and that the funders have no control or specific knowledge of what he is researching. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
-Mark Gottlieb