Source: Seattle Times (WA) Contact: Website: http://www.seattletimes.com/ Pubdate: Tuesday 02 June 1998 Author: Harry Berkowitz, Newsday LOTT SAYS SENATE ANTI-SMOKING BILL `TEETERING' The Senate anti-teen-smoking bill is "teetering" because of attempts to make it tougher on the tobacco industry, Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., warned yesterday as lawmakers returned from a one-week recess. A vote on the bill, which was already delayed through filibusters by the measure's opponents, faces a further setback as the Senate in effect recesses tomorrow for the funeral of former Sen. Barry Goldwater. Also, political primaries today will prevent votes on amendments to the bill, Lott said. But insiders said the key to whether the Senate acts by next week centers on Lott's willingness to turn back efforts to delay action by members of the leadership who fiercely oppose the bill. Those opponents include Republican Sens. Don Nickles of Oklahoma, the assistant majority leader; Paul Coverdell of Georgia; and Larry Craig of Idaho. They argue that it is a big-government, big-spending measure whose steep price increases would foster a black market. Lott criticized a series of tough amendments, including one that drew a majority of support before the recess to remove an $8 billion annual cap on tobacco lawsuit payments, as well as a proposal to strengthen the penalties tobacco companies would pay if cuts in teen smoking don't meet specified goals. Lott said that amendment could be the "death knell." The bill, sponsored by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would raise cigarette prices by $1.10 per pack, restrict marketing and cost the industry $516 billion over 25 years. "The bill is teetering - teetering in the balance here - as to whether or not it's just going to collapse of its own weight," Lott said. He said it is still "possible" to work out some of these remaining "sticky issues." Lott said he wants to alternate the tobacco debate with other issues. But Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota has said Democrats will not allow the Senate to move to any other issues until tobacco is resolved. Opponents of the bill are proposing amendments to tie it to tax cuts, including a change in the so-called marriage penalty, and to anti-drug measures, including a $3 billion-per-year plan sponsored by Coverdell and Craig. Also, two groups of senators are working on substitute bills that would scale back provisions of the McCain measure. - --- Checked-by: Richard Lake