Big Tobacco Close To Deal

States Expect About $1 Bil. for Ads; FDA Ad Ban Nixed
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Tobacco companies and eight states are expected this week to unveil an agreement that would settle all lawsuits for about $200 billion, with roughly $1 billion earmarked for a five-year anti-tobacco ad campaign, sources said.
The deal–with California, Colorado, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Washington–will also include ad restrictions similar to those found in settlements reached with Florida, Minnesota, Mississippi and Texas, said sources.
Under the Minnesota deal, for instance, companies must remove all billboard ads, stop using images that appeal to children and cease use of merchandise with tobacco logos.
“You can guarantee that some aspect of advertising issues will be addressed in a national settlement,” said a representative of Washington Attorney General Christine Gregoire, lead negotiator for the states.
The eight states are expected to give the other 38 states with lawsuits pending until Nov.