Senators Urge Reno to Sue Tobacco Firms for Costs

Five Democratic senators on Tuesday asked Atty. Gen. Janet Reno to file suit against major tobacco companies to recoup the federal government’s cost of treating smoking-related illnesses.

In a letter to Reno, the senators estimated that the government spent about $20 billion a year through Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health programs on tobacco-related expenses.

They urged her to join the two dozen state attorneys general who have sued tobacco firms to recover their own costs of treating such illnesses.

“We are writing to strongly urge that you follow the lead of . . . state attorneys general in seeking to recover the approximately $20 billion in tobacco-related health-care costs borne by federal taxpayers each year,” the letter said.

“We know you have been considering options for legal action in this area. We urge you to act promptly to have the federal government join the states in taking action,” it said.

Democratic senators signing the letter were Tom Harkin of Iowa, Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Paul Wellstone of Minnesota and Ron Wyden of Oregon.

The Justice Department had no immediate comment.

The letter comes in the midst of highly publicized negotiations between state attorneys general and tobacco companies. The tobacco firms hope to negotiate a settlement to state lawsuits asking them to pay the Medicaid costs of treating smoking-related illness.

At the White House, Deputy White House Counsel Bruce Lindsey received an update on the progress of the settlement talks from Mississippi Atty. Gen. Michael Moore, a key negotiator in the talks.

The parties in the talks are probably going to meet again later this week, a White House official said.

The two sides are discussing a plan under which the industry would provide up to $300 billion in compensation over 25 years and accept a host of new federal regulations. In return, the industry wants broad immunity from future lawsuits filed by smokers.

But on Tuesday, James Tierney, who is helping coordinate the prosecutors’ strategy, said the group agreed that any settlement with manufacturers will not grant total immunity from lawsuits.