US: Tobacco Industry Steps up Lobbying across NY in 2013, Watchdog Group Finds

Source from:  The Post-Standard 02/14/2014

Lobbying by the tobacco industry has been on the rise across the state, a government watchdog group says.

A report by the New York Public Interest Research Group released Wednesday says that the tobacco industry spent $7 million in the first half of 2013 on tobacco lobbying and campaign donations, more than it did on during 2011 and 2012 combined.

The group says the industry lobbied in New York City, the cities of Buffalo and Binghamton, and in Albany, Columbia, Madison and Suffolk counties. NYPIRG said the lobbying involved opposition to local health initiatives.

NYPIRG reports that Altria, formerly Philip Morris, spent the most, with more than $4 million on lobbying and more than $300,000 on campaign contributions.

Altria spokesman David Sutton said the company participates in policy-making that could affect it, shareholders and consumers. Enditem