News from the House and Senate HESS Committee

Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
Ken Freeman, House Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582 or 465-3804
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

For Immediate Release: Contact, Representative Con Bunde, (907) 465-4843/(907) 465-3871 fax or Senator Gary Wilken, (907) 465-3762/(907) 465-4714 fax

Arizona Attorney General to Address Joint HESS Meeting
Helped Win Settlement with Liggett Group Tobacco Firm

JUNEAU -- (April 11, 1997) -- Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods, who helped negotiate the recent settlement of lawsuits against the Liggett Group tobacco company, will address a joint meeting of the Alaska House and Senate Health and Social Services committees on Monday, April 14, 1997 at 3:30 p.m.

Woods will discuss the historic Liggett settlement, and examine the variety of tools anti-tobacco forces can use to cut down the use of tobacco, including taxation, litigation and enforcement.

Also at the meeting, Alaska Attorney General Bruce Botelho will discuss the status of the tobacco industry’s pre-emptive lawsuit against Alaska, and discuss the Knowles Administration’s views on the multi-prong approach to fighting tobacco. Alaska Health and Social Services Commissioner Karen Perdue will also make a brief presentation on tobacco’s impact on public health in the state.

Woods, recently featured on ABC’s "Nightline" program, on Cable News Network and in other national media, was a lead participant in the lengthy negotiations that led to the settlement between Liggett and the attorneys-general of 22 states.

As part of the settlement, Liggett admitted that cigarettes have long been actively marketed to minors, that cigarettes are addictive and that they can cause cancer. An undated marketing study done for Liggett and revealed by the settlement shows the tobacco industry has targeted youths aged 16 to 21 years old and specific ethic groups in its efforts to attract new smokers.

Under terms of the settlement, Liggett agreed to waive privilege and turn over hundreds of industry documents going back decades.

"To use a criminal analogy, Liggett is turning state’s evidence in our lawsuits," Woods said. "We believe this is the beginning of the end for this conspiracy of lies and deception that’s been perpetrated on the American public by the tobacco companies. Someone is finally telling the truth."

Woods, a Republican elected to the Arizona attorney general’s post, gained national attention last fall when he proceeded with a lawsuit against the tobacco companies on behalf of the state over the objections of Arizona’s Republican Governor Fife Symington. It was later reported that Symington had met with tobacco lobbyists before announcing his objection.

The joint meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the Senate Finance Room, Room 532 of the State Capitol. The presentation will be carried by KTOO-TV’s Gavel to Gavel, and will also be available via teleconference at Legislative Information Offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks, and at other LIOs by request.

The House HESS Committee members are Representatives Con Bunde (Chairman), Joe Green, Fred Dyson, Brian Porter, Al Vezey, Tom Brice and Alan Kemplen. The Senate HESS Committee members are Senators Gary Wilken (Chairman), Loren Leman, Lyda Green, Jerry Ward and Johnny Ellis.

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Broadcast Note: Radio actualities are available by calling 800/478-6540.