Anti Smoking Legislation

So prison inmates are upset because they can't smoke. Shouldn't be a problem. Cigarettes aren't addictive. How many times do the tobacco companies have to tell us? Solution: Have the inmates contact the cigarette companies for a friendly reminder that the cravings are all in their heads. RUSSELL B. KIDD, Woodland Hills

If the state Assembly takes up campaign finance reform again, Assemblyman Steven T. Kuykendall (R-Rancho Palos Verdes) admits that he might be singled out. "I may have taken what is the largest single contribution to an individual Assembly candidate, except for maybe Willie Brown," said Kuykendall, who was sworn in Monday as the assemblyman in the 54th District, which includes the Palos Verdes Peninsula, San Pedro and Long Beach.

Only the tobacco industry could have the gall to poll 1,500 adults (less than one in 100,000 or exactly 30 per state) and announce that a "majority" of Americans do not support higher cigarette taxes or tougher anti-smoking legislation (Tobacco Institute ad, Business, Jan. 9). If so, how come Proposition 99 passed despite a massive and misleading campaign by tobacco companies? The statistics showing the damage and financial burdens smokers inflict on others as well as themselves are too dreary and familiar to bear repeating--not that they'd impress an industry that still denies smoking causes lung cancer.

Assemblyman Lloyd Connelly wanted to snuff out Joe Camel. The legislator argued that the chain-smoking cartoon character, featured in an R. J. Reynolds ad campaign, was part of a cleverly designed and successful attempt to make cigarettes attractive to kids under 18, who cannot legally purchase tobacco products. To put an end to "Old Joe," Connelly, a Sacramento Democrat, introduced a bill to bar the use of cartoons in ads pitching tobacco.

If the state Assembly takes up campaign finance reform again, Assemblyman Steven T. Kuykendall (R-Rancho Palos Verdes) admits that he might be singled out. "I may have taken what is the largest single contribution to an individual Assembly candidate, except for maybe Willie Brown," said Kuykendall, who was sworn in Monday as the assemblyman in the 54th District, which includes the Long Beach, Signal Hill, Palos Verdes Peninsula and San Pedro.

Until two weeks ago, no one would have questioned Assemblyman Gerald N. Felando's credentials as a champion of the anti-smoking cause. In 1989, the San Pedro Republican won a two-year fight to ban smoking on the Assembly floor and now loudly complains whenever he spots a colleague puffing in the Assembly chamber.

Assemblyman Lloyd Connelly wanted to snuff out Joe Camel. The legislator argued that the chain-smoking cartoon character, featured in an R. J. Reynolds ad campaign, was part of a cleverly designed and successful attempt to make cigarettes attractive to kids under 18, who cannot legally purchase tobacco products. To put an end to "Old Joe," Connelly, a Sacramento Democrat, introduced a bill to bar the use of cartoons in ads pitching tobacco.

The Virginia House of Delegates tentatively approved anti-smoking legislation Monday that includes smoking limits for all state and local government buildings. Bowing to growing public sentiment for relief from secondhand tobacco smoke in public places, even some delegates from the heart of the state's tobacco country voted for the measure, saying the state must set a policy and end the debate. The House measure passed on a voice vote and was scheduled for a final vote today.

Thank you for the three reports (Aug. 27, 28 and 30) uncovering the tobacco industry's attempt to pass a sham legislation, with two assemblymen's help, to subvert anti-smoking efforts in the state. Assemblyman Gerald N. Felando (R-San Pedro), who introduced the bill, called nonsmokers' rights activists "wacky" and "phony." Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, who received campaign donations of $105,000 from tobacco giants Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds in the first half of this year and $154,750 between 1986 and 1990 among other gifts, was identified in a tobacco industry memo as the one who suggested the sham legislation during a visit he made to tobacco executives in New York last fall.

Until two weeks ago, no one would have questioned Assemblyman Gerald N. Felando's credentials as a champion of the anti-smoking cause. In 1989, the San Pedro Republican won a two-year fight to ban smoking on the Assembly floor and now loudly complains whenever he spots a colleague puffing in the Assembly chamber.

Only the tobacco industry could have the gall to poll 1,500 adults (less than one in 100,000 or exactly 30 per state) and announce that a "majority" of Americans do not support higher cigarette taxes or tougher anti-smoking legislation (Tobacco Institute ad, Business, Jan. 9). If so, how come Proposition 99 passed despite a massive and misleading campaign by tobacco companies? The statistics showing the damage and financial burdens smokers inflict on others as well as themselves are too dreary and familiar to bear repeating--not that they'd impress an industry that still denies smoking causes lung cancer.