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June 8, 2005
Microsoft Deal II -- Tobacco Outrage
-- by Dave Johnson
Remember the Microsoft trial? The government won, and was looking for a remedy to Microsoft's crimes. But then the new Bush administration just said "never mind" and let Microsoft off the hook to continue what they had been doing.
Remember the tobacco company crimes? Well here we go again: Tobacco Escapes Huge Penalty,
After eight months of courtroom argument, Justice Department lawyers abruptly upset a landmark civil racketeering case against the tobacco industry yesterday by asking for less than 8 percent of the expected penalty.This money was not just a penalty, it was supposed to fund anti-smoking campaigns. So the Republicans let them off the hook and let them continue to receive revenue from the addicted customers.[. . .] Sources and government officials close to the case said the trial lawyers wanted to request $130 billion for smoking-cessation programs but were pressured by leaders in the attorney general's office ... to make the cut.
[. . .] Facing those same internal documents in another suit,the tobacco industry in 1998 agreed to pay $246 billion to settle a lawsuit filed by states to recover their costs for the medical treatment of smokers.
Maybe a call to your member of Congress or the Senate might help you vent.
(Through The Left Coaster)
Posted by Dave Johnson at June 8, 2005 9:04 AM
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