WHITE HOUSE WILLING TO JOIN TOBACCO TALKS.Byline: Bloomberg News The Clinton administration Noun 1. Clinton administration - the executive under President Clinton executive - persons who administer the law said it's willing to join the current talks to settle health-related lawsuits against the tobacco industry. Spokesman Mike McCurry said the administration is monitoring talks between representatives of the cigarette makers, states and smokers' lawyers. The negotiations may result in laws limiting future suits - a key tobacco demand - and industry payments of as much as $250 billion over 25 years, people involved in the talks said. White House involvement could help reach a settlement, analysts said. President Clinton, who wants tougher industry regulations to reduce smoking by teen-agers, would need to sign any federal legislation. ``If the industry or others who are talking with the industry come forward with ideas that meet the president's health care objectives, we would certainly entertain a discussion,'' McCurry said in an interview. No settlement is imminent, tobacco executives said. McCurry's comments echo those by Steven Goldstone Steven F. Goldstone (born 1946) has managed Silver Spring Group, a private investment firm, since 2000. From 1995 until his retirement in 2000, Goldstone was chairman and chief executive officer of RJR Nabisco, Inc. , chairman and chief executive of No. 2 U.S. cigarette maker, RJR Nabisco RJR Nabisco, Inc., was an American conglomerate formed in 1985 by the merger of Nabisco Brands and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. RJR Nabisco was purchased in 1988 by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. in the second largest leveraged buyout in history, adjusted for inflation. Holdings Corp. Goldstone gold·stone n. An aventurine with gold-colored inclusions. Noun 1. goldstone - aventurine spangled densely with fine gold-colored particles said he's more interested in new laws New Laws: see Las Casas, Bartolomé de. or other federal intervention Federal intervention (Spanish: Intervención federal) is an attribution of the federal government of Argentina, by which it takes control of a province in certain extreme cases. Intervention is declared by the President with the assent of the National Congress. than settling current or future suits. ``It is in the interest of the country and our industry to see whether there is common ground,'' Goldstone said. Martin Broughton, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of B.A.T Industries Plc, the world's second-largest tobacco firm, said no resolution will get off the ground without congressional and administration approvals. He said the industry won't put forth a proposal or initiate talks because that should come from the plaintiffs. ``If they've got something sensible, it's in our fiduciary duties to listen to what it is,'' he said in an interview. ``If they don't come forward, I don't see anything happening.'' McCurry's remarks could turn increased attention on legislation that would be acceptable to both houses of Congress and their Republican majorities. |
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