MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY - The only physician in Missouri's Senate has attacked state Attorney General Jay Nixon for not joining with other states suing the tobacco industry.
"I started urging the Attorney General to file a lawsuit in April and May of 1996. Recently I wrote him again. Each time he has sat back and waited," said Sen. Marvin Singleton, R-Joplin.
Singleton made his comments shortly after the announcement that the tobacco firm Liggett had reached a settlement with 22 states that had sued the company for damages.
The Missouri Attorney General's office says they still are undecided on whether or not the state will join other states in suing the tobacco industry.
According to Scott Holste, a spokesperson of Nixon's office "a lawsuit is being taken into very strong consideration...It is hard to say when a decision will be made.I can't talk about any specifics."
Nixon had met with lawyers in Washington,D.C. this month to obtain more information including new evidence that could be advantageous for Missouri in case the attorney general decides to file suit against cigarette producers.
But Nixon's actions do not go far enough for Singleton who said he would like to see the issue pushed more aggressively by the Attorney General.
Singleton, a member of the Senate Health Committee, said he is convinced that there is enough evidence that smoking is harmful.
"As a physician, I know that what they are saying about nicotine is true. 150,000 children are born prematurely each year because their mothers smoke."