Pubdate: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 Source: Reuter Chances slip for quick action on U.S. tobacco pact By Joanne Kenen WASHINGTON (Reuter) Chances of swift U.S. government approval of the landmark tobacco settlement are receding because the White House has yet to take a strong stand on the deal and Congress appears ready to delay action into next year, government sources said. More than two months have passed since major tobacco companies agreed with U.S. states to pay some $368.5 billion over 25 years and make health and marketing concessions in exchange for limits to future legal liability. The deal requires the blessing of President Clinton and legislation approved by Congress to take effect. White House tobacco policy experts plan to brief Clinton soon after he returns from his vacation Sunday, and a spokesman said Clinton will take ``the next couple of weeks'' to mull over his tobacco task force's report. ``Sometime in short order, the president ... will articulate his view and vision of the tobacco settlement,'' White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said Friday. Clinton criticized elements of the accord, notably calling for stronger guarantees of the Food and Drug Administration power to regulate nicotine. The White House is also widely expected to seek tougher penalties if tobacco companies fail to reach targets for reducing youth smoking. Proponents of the deal, like lead negotiator for the states Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore, expect Clinton to embrace the proposal with few additional caveats. ``It is my opinion that the president of the United States will come on board,'' the everoptimistic Moore told reporters recently. But other administration sources and public health advocates say there is a great deal of skepticism and ambivalence about the proposal within the administration. There is uncertainty in Clinton's inner circle about whether to take a strong lead to create momentum for the proposal or shift that responsibility back to Congress. The longer the proposal languishes, the more opportunities critics have to attack it. And the political fate of the settlement could still be affected by lawsuits pending against cigarette makers. The proposal has come under a barrage of criticism from leading public health groups, including former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop and former FDA Commissioner David Kessler. Opinion polls have shown public doubt about the agreement, and a core group of Clinton's fellow Democrats in the Senate have been holding a stream of news conferences to highlight their latest objections to the tobacco companies, which they refer to as ``Big Tobacco.'' The Republican congressional leadership has not embraced the proposal, which originated with the state attorneys general and has no real roots within the federal legislative process. Senate committees have begun holding hearings but the House has not, and no one in either chamber has introduced legislation based on the proposal. Leaders of the Republican majority have said action is unlikely until next year. Several Democrats are also urging a goslow approach, saying Congress should not act before getting access to confidential industry papers, some of which could become public early next year through Minnesota's tobacco lawsuit. ``There's no need to do this pellmell,'' said New Jersey Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg. Said Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa: ``This is beginning to look more like a real sweetheart deal for the tobacco industry. It makes me wonder whether we have a foot on their (industry) neck or a feather.'' But most lawmakers have not rushed to judgment, and many are trying to figure out if on balance the proposal is in fact a onceinalifetime opportunity to forge a national tobacco policy and make a serious assault on teenage smoking or a sellout to the industry. ``I haven't really reached a final conclusion,'' said Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, echoing the views of many of her colleagues.