Source: Orange County Register (CA) Contact: http://www.ocregister.com/ Pubdate: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 Author: Bennett Roth - Houston Chronicle CLINTON DEFENDS TOBACCO PROPOSAL The president calls on House Speaker Gingrich to once again back the smoking crackdown. Washington-Trying to prod Congress into action, President Clinton on Monday defended anti-smoking legislation against escalating attacks from the tobacco industry and a leading Republican. "The tobacco industry once again seeks to put its bottom line above what should be our bottom line - the health of our children," said Clinton as he urged lawmakers returning from spring recess to approve comprehensive tobacco legislation in the next five weeks. The next few months will be critical for any tobacco initiative because lawmakers are unlikely to tackle such complex and bitterly contested legislation later in the year when many will be up for re-election. Before the recess, tobacco opponents were encouraged when the Senate Commerce Committee, led by chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., approved legislation that would regulate tobacco products and extract more than $500 billion from the industry. The measure would increase the price of a pack of cigarettes by at least $1.10. But since then, the major tobacco companies have vowed to fight the legislation and last week launched a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign slamming the measure. The measure got another setback over the weekend when House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., blasted the bill passed by the Senate committee as too liberal. The president, however, commended McCain's efforts, and urged Congress not to submit to tobacco industry pressure and water down any tobacco initiative. "This is not the time for half-measures that simply won't work. And it will only play into the tobacco industry's hands," he warned. Clinton noted that Gingrich appeared to have altered his stand on tobacco. Several weeks ago the Georgia Republican said the tobacco industry had no credibility and vowed that the House would not allow Democrats to appear tougher on the industry than Republicans. But last weekend Gingrich suddenly echoed the tobacco industry's position when he attacked the Senate legislation as a "bad bill." "I am opposed to a liberal tobacco bill which would raise taxes to create bigger government," he said. The president said he had been encouraged by Gingrich's earlier comments and said he hoped "he will return to his former position." The next stop for the tobacco legislation would be the Senate floor. But House Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., said Monday that he was uncertain when the matter would be taken up. He had said before the spring break that the legislation would have to be considered before Memorial Day.