Philip Morris Campaign Funds

* I am disgusted by the heavy spending by the tobacco giant Philip Morris in the state Assembly district represented by Betty Karnette (D-Long Beach). The Times reported that the giant tobacco company poured $125,000 into the campaign of Karnette’s opponent, Steve Kuykendall, with the full awareness of Republican Jim Brulte (Rancho Cucamonga), the wanna-be Speaker of the Assembly (Nov. 17).

I believe that Karnette served the will of her district on smoking issues. As a constituent of the 54th District, I’m pleased that my assemblywoman showed the courage to vote for the toughest state ban in the nation on smoking in the workplace. I’m also pleased that Gov. Pete Wilson promptly signed this measure into law.

On the surface, Kuykendall also seemed to be a critic of tobacco and special interests. As a city councilman in Rancho Palos Verdes, he voted to oppose Prop. 188 and to also ban smoking in restaurants. He also focused his campaign wrath against “special interest money.”

Regrettably, it seems that all of the high-sounding talk by Kuykendall was simply a hypocritical front. The truth is that he was willing to instantly put aside his earlier public record and so-called principles when some really big special interest money came his way the weekend before election.

The smoke and mirrors behind this buy-off by the tobacco industry is revolting. At approximately $2 a pack, the Philip Morris contribution would buy more than a pack of cigarettes for each person who voted for Kuykendall. Why risk losing a courageous civic leader like Karnette to someone who should have simply been honest and stood outside the polling booths passing out loose cigarettes to any interested voter?

EVAN ANDERSON BRAUDE

Long Beach

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* As a nonsmoker, I am most pleased to find that as a result of the election, Philip Morris will have its own representative in the California Assembly, Kuykendall, in the 54th District, to protect the corporation’s interests. So nice of Philip Morris to donate that last-minute $125,000 to Steve’s campaign.

In addition, Rep. Thomas J. Bliley Jr. (R-Va.), who resides in the same town as Philip Morris headquarters, I guess just down the street, now takes over the chairmanship of Energy and Commerce, which so badly treated those tobacco CEOs because they denied nicotine is addictive.

Mr. Butts is twice blessed!

BRYAN W. STEVENS

Rolling Hills Estates

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* Item, Nov. 11: Rep. Bliley, announces that as incoming chair of a House subcommittee on health he will “snuff out” congressional investigations of the tobacco industry. “I don’t think we need any more legislation regulating tobacco,” Bliley is quoted.

The article goes on to reveal that Philip Morris is the largest employer in Bliley’s district and that Bliley’s campaign received “substantial contributions” from the tobacco industry.

This is the kind of virtuous government, free from the influences of special interests, that we can expect from Newt Gingrich and his Republican gang.

CURTISS CLAYTON

Los Angeles