Reynolds American spends big bucks to buy influence
Editor
Jan 11, 2013
Big Tobacco has high hopes for North Carolina’s new governor and Legislature – they want to keep funding for tobacco prevention programs at zero and roll back the state’s three-year-old smoke-free law.
Continue reading In North Carolina, Dancing with Big Tobacco at the Inaugural Ball
posted January 11, 2013
Key industry chiefs are paid more than 47 states and DC are spending on prevention
Editor
Apr 12, 2012
Pay packages for chief executives at the top three U.S. tobacco companies last year exceeded the amount of money being spent on tobacco prevention programs in all but three states.
Continue reading Tobacco Company CEOs Cash In While States Cut Back on Prevention
posted April 12, 2012
Big bucks will spread big lies about cigarette tax initiative
Editor
Mar 6, 2012
Big tobacco companies already have coughed up nearly $15 million to try to kill a California ballot initiative that would boost the state's cigarette tax by $1 to fund cancer research and tobacco-prevention programs.
"Shame on them," says Dr. Richard Gray, president of the American Heart Association Western States Affiliate. "But we aren’t surprised — they will always put their profits before the health of millions of Californians."
Continue reading Big Tobacco Bankrolls Fight Against California Measure to Reduce Smoking, Save Lives
posted March 06, 2012
Tobacco Company Comes Under Fire for Green Claims
Editor
Jul 27, 2011
Cigarettes kill and pollute. There's nothing healthy or environmentally friendly about them.
So it's truly outrageous that the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, owned by Reynolds American, is running magazine ads promoting its Natural American Spirit cigarettes as "eco friendly." It's called greenwashing — making deceptive environmental claims to improve the image of a controversial product or company.
Continue reading Causing lung cancer and heart disease the “eco-friendly” way
posted July 27, 2011
Handful of industry executives make more than 49 states and DC spend on prevention
Danny McGoldrick, Tobacco-Free Kids Vice President of Research
Apr 8, 2011
How do big pay packages for top tobacco executives stack up against state funding for programs to keep kids from smoking and help smokers quit?
It's a lopsided mismatch that the tobacco execs win. Guess the lifestyles of the Big Tobacco Execs are worth more than the health of our kids.
Continue reading Tobacco CEO Pay and Tobacco Prevention: A Tale of Two Payouts
posted April 08, 2011
Tobacco executives reap rewards from sowing misery
Editor
Mar 7, 2011
Last year's pay packages for tobacco chief executives are now being disclosed in financial filings with the government, and once again a big winner is Susan Ivey, the former CEO of Reynolds American Inc., the nation's second-biggest tobacco company.
Ivey retired in February and she received a 2010 compensation package of $16.8 million, according to an analysis by the Associated Press. That's a 4 percent increase compared with 2009 — a year in which Ivey's compensation had soared by 84 percent.
Continue reading Big Payoff for Pushing Deadly Product
posted March 07, 2011