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Show jnuary 20, 1998 The Dixie Sun Page 3 Tobacco companies settle for $15.3 By iet Raelynne Writer Loudon has been drawn up. Texas Attorney General Dan Morales told reporters the $15.3 billion settlement would be paid out over 25 years, with the first $1.2 billion due this year. Much of the initial money would go toward a Staff The state of Texas tobacco companies reached a record $15.3 billsnd est l le astt ; ion settlement Friday, but a ederal judge held off accept-,n- g until a later date. IfU.S. District Judge lyfri David Folsom approves it, it itit will be not only the biggest oayoff in the war between 'he states and the tobacco .0 industry but also the largest 2Db legal settlement in U.S. ice lawyers said. iudgt Folsom said he ole . would need the weekend to anni read the lengthy document :imt and would not make a decisplan it ns foundation for health, anti-smokin- Sa his-or- fir Le dpr uts done ar with asked m cati mce beg; iat tl igre- d Conceptually, it is a deal, one source famili- the negotiations industry has The said. 5 y, ion until Tuesday. ;et to let its chief executits general ive officers and counsel to take a iocument look pro- grams and cancer research at state institutions. More than a million poor children in Texas without health insurance will receive the care they need. The taxpayers of Texas are now fully compensated for the cost of providing health care to those afflicted with tobacco-relatediseases, Morales said. The deal also requires the tobacco companies to pay the states lawyer fees for the lawsuit, which was filed in March 1996, and to remove all 3. S childrens g at the overnight, but it Bridal Creations & Prom By Karen Has Prom Gowns starting at only $59 946 W. Sunset Blvd. Ste. M St. George 628-696- 6 I was a lough hme :or mo needed money y college, ou dicn'l wool a loan com ng due when grad'joed So a Friend told me about the A r Fcvce Reserve You ccn quc ify ka uvei $7,003 toward your college on the Gl Bid, one recaivo crncM throoqh the Commun ty College of tnu Air Force Reserve wile yr.w Afiro o salary Plus you get on t e $ob Doming con he O launch ynur rr'tvr listen, rt ak.es mere mar' a gcoo mnd to get a college ducat'un If f'jkes the Air f'uce money too Take of with Reserve one weekend a nor n and two weeks o year You con be mc.ktnq the grade get mg paid and Iyt ng the Lme of your lire For more information call: MSGT Gene Kinder (800) wire ofres of advertising billboards in the state. The tobacco companies said in a statement the Even if tobacco gets ing a proposed national settlement. its expensive truce in Texas, The defendants in the the war goes on. The state of Texas lawsuit include Minnesotas $1.75 billion settlement again demon- American Tobacco Co. Inc., lawsuit against the industry strates that the industry is R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., is set to start next week. One day after the prepared to cooperate with Brown & Williamson Tobacco government and the public Corp., B.A.T. Industries, state of Texas victory, health authorities to discourPhilip Morris Cos. Inc., President Clinton called on age underage tobacco use. Liggett Group Inc., Lorillard Congress to pass a law aimed The Texas settlement, if Tobacco Co. Inc., United at reducing the number of accepted, would remove a big States Tobacco Co., Hill & teen smokers in the United Knowlton Inc., the Council States. stumbling block to the tobacco industrys hope of getting for For years, one of our nations approval of a $368.5 biggest billion settlement in tobacco companies Congress to resolve all appears to have sinits legal woes. If gled out our chilpassed, the global dren, carefully settlement would studying their habits and pursuing a marsupersede those of the individual states only strategy keting if it offered them more designed to prey on their insecurities in money. The proposal order to get them to would provide the smoke. Clinton said in his weekly radio immunity industry from future prosecuaddress, Saturday. tion but would also Clinton urged restrict tobacco adverto pass Congress tising and the levels of comprehensive, addictive nicotine in bipartisan tobacco tobacco products. legislation this year In their stateand promised that his balanced budget ment, the tobacco companies said, We conproposal, which will tinue to believe the be released early best course of action is next month, would make specific recomadoption of the proposed national resolution and the Tobacco Institute mendations on how much the now before Inc. tobacco industry should pay pending Texas, like the 40 and how those funds could Congress. But the deal with other states that have sued best be used to protect the Texas does not assure conthe industry, sought to recovpublic health and children. gressional approval. This er the cost of treating sick Today, I want memweek, the industry came smokers under the Medicaid bers of Congress to know under renewed attack with program and charged tobacco that our administiation will were liable sit down with them anytime, the disclosure of internal companies because they covered up the anywhere to work out bipardocuments outlining carefultisan legislation. ..This is not ly planned strategies to dangers of smoking. and about politics; this is not attract young smokers. Mississippi Some lawmakers said Florida last year settled with about money. It is about our the documents could hurt the the tobacco companies for a children, he said. combined $14.7 billion. chances of Congress approv Tobacco-Research-US- ISvaaaas nUairsiyllang Cn13I!g:j E'ssi TalMkrnnt! Aryy) vwvv to jk Hair rtil'Vn.,. out our iiai-- t iiino iiv Suui gram for winli'r and spring quai-im-s- . 01110 ill ami Iilllltl'd. rhm-- (I'Ll- - k run lni-l'r- i 123IMI In uil) Total Mposiiio Tanning m i rain Force 'Reserve 7:ui2n iloiiH ui flio i-- 257-121- 2 billion I." Tans for SiKI with lliis hhimmi (umil Ft-li.- q |