States Press Ahead With Tobacco Talks

State attorneys general are optimistic about talks with the tobacco industry over settling suits for the costs of treating sick smokers despite Massachusetts’ withdrawal from the negotiations.

The closed-door discussions, which resumed last week after a three-week break, are expected to start again in New York on Wednesday.

Washington state’s attorney general, Christine Gregoire, who has been leading the government side in the talks, said Monday that Massachusetts’ decision to withdraw was premature and should not affect the talks.

“We made more progress last week than we have had over the course of the past month,” Gregoire said. “That doesn’t mean we are going to get or have a deal, but I’m more optimistic than I have been in a month.”

Nine states had been involved in the talks. But Atty. Gen. Scott Harshbarger of Massachusetts announced over the weekend that he would no longer participate because of doubts about the industry’s commitment to improving public health and curbing underage smoking.

In addition to Gregoire, the attorneys general of California, Pennsylvania and North Carolina confirmed they would continue in the talks. The others are from New York, Colorado, Oklahoma and North Dakota.

The industry has already reached settlements with the states of Mississippi, Florida, Texas and Minnesota. But about three dozen other states have suits pending against the tobacco companies seeking to recover billions of dollars spent under Medicaid programs to treat smoking-related illnesses.