NYC Fundraiser for Raimondo Hosted by Tobacco CEO Who Testified Cigarettes Do Not Cause Cancer
GoLocalProv News Team
NYC Fundraiser for Raimondo Hosted by Tobacco CEO Who Testified Cigarettes Do Not Cause Cancer
Andrew Tisch and his wife Ann are hosting a New York City fundraiser on Thursday for Governor Gina Raimondo at their home.
However, Tisch may be best known for his dramatic testimony before Congress when he was the CEO of Lorillard Tobacco Company, when he and other leading tobacco execs shocked members of Congress and the American public in claiming that there was no link between tobacco and cancer and that nicotine was not addictive.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFor Raimondo, the link to a former tobacco CEO could be a political liability. Under her administration, Rhode Island has sunk to a grade of "F" from the American Lung Association. According to the national health organization, "Thumbs down for Rhode Island for spending little state money on tobacco prevention and cessation programs despite smoking costing the state close to $640 million in healthcare costs each year."
Democratic Congressmen on the panel, inspired by recent news reports, pressed the executives on whether their companies manipulated the content of nicotine to keep smokers addicted to cigarettes. The executives acknowledged that nicotine levels could be and were controlled by altering the blends of tobacco, but they said this was done to enhance flavor, not to insure addiction.
Mr. [Henry] Waxman asked Andrew H. Tisch, the chairman and chief executive of the Lorillard Tobacco Company whether he knew that cigarettes caused cancer. “I do not believe that,” Mr. Tisch answered.
“Do you understand how isolated you are from the scientific community in your belief?” Mr. Waxman asked.
“I do, sir," Mr. Tisch said.
Tisch also claimed in answering questions from then-Congressman and now-United States Senator Ron Wyden that he did not believe that nicotine was addictive. SEE VIDEO BELOW
After the hearing, a perjury investigation was initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Ultimately, the DOJ found it did not have enough evidence to prosecute for perjury because the CEOs testified under oath that they believed nicotine did not addict to people. Because they had used the word "believe," they could not be prosecuted for perjury.
Over the past three decades, Tisch has funneled hundreds of thousands of political donations to both parties and candidates from Hillary Clinton to George W. Bush.
He has also made massive donations to state and federal political committees, including $150,000.00 to the Americans for Responsible Solutions, $33,400.00 to the DNC Services Corp, $25,000.00 to the Democratic linked PowerPAC Plus, $50,000 to The Mobilization Project tied to Corey Booker’s campaign, and $5,000.00 to the New York Republican Federal Campaign Committee.
Her wife Ann Tisch has donated hundreds of thousands and combined the couple exceeds more than a million in political donations.
2018 Governor’s Race Playbook - June 4, 2018
Momentum: Up
Patricia Morgan (R)
Wins:
Morgan, the consummate battler, went to court to challenge Peter Kilmartin to release public documents regarding the expenditure of Google monies given to Rhode Island.
Morgan, like fellow GOP candidate Allan Fung and Democrat Matt Brown, hammered Governor Gina Raimondo on the PawSox proposal. SEE HERE
Losses:
N/A
X-Factor: Issues Morgan has been talking about for years are growing in importance.
Momentum: Up
Luis Daniel Muñoz (I)
Wins:
This week he unveiled three initiatives:
First, the D.I.N.O. program — dynamic intelligence for nation opportunity — and economic education initiative focused on preparing students for better-paying jobs.
Second, the R.I.N.O. — redefining intelligence for national opportunity — a career focused retaining program for Rhode Island workers.
And, third, MEND-i, a statewide community health initiative that puts more emphasis on the community health systems. SEE INTERVIEW HERE
Losses:
Are these the issues that Rhode Islanders care about?
X-Factor: A lot of substance, but little style points. Needs follow-up.
Momentum:Flat
Allan Fung (R)
Wins:
PawSox, PawSox, PawSox. Fung is hammering Raimondo on the latest PawSox proposal that Raimondo's Secretary of Commerce Stefan Pryor testified in favor of House Finance on Thursday night.
Pryor joined some bill supporters claiming Mattiello's new bill would cost more (as much as $25 million more), but eliminate the risk for taxpayers. But, by Friday morning, Raimondo said the taxpayers would be on the hook if the Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency fails. So this new proposal that the Raimondo administration purportedly supports -- costs more and still puts the taxpayer on the hook.
This is good eating for Fung's campaign.
Losses:
Raimondo via the Democratic Governor's Association is hammering Fung on pay equity and gun control. This is designed to create a gender gap for Fung. He needs to be careful here -- could be the difference maker.
X-Factor: Needs to be careful. Has to make sure that he does not lose female voters over the next few months - guns, equity, schools, reproductive rights.
Momentum: Flat
Gina Raimondo (D)
Wins:
Deepwater Wind announcement claimed a large number of construction jobs over the next few years -- potentially as many as 800, but fewer than 50 permanent jobs in Rhode Island.
Losses:
The PawSox are becoming a big problem - does she favor Speaker Nick Mattiello's new proposal?
X-Factor: Will she push through an unpopular funding scheme?
Momentum: Flat
Spencer Dickinson (D)
Wins:
This week Spencer Dickinson said that he name Ted Siedle as a special prosecutor to "dig into problems with the RI retirees pension fund."
Dickinson is the only candidate from either party who, as a member of the House, actively fought what he calls the so-called ‘pension reform’ disaster of 2011.”
Dickinson says that the legislation pushed through by Speaker Gordon Fox and then-treasurer Gina Raimondo in November 2011 has "angered thousands of teachers and state employees who still believe the action was illegal, unnecessary and unfair."
Siedle, a columnist for Forbes Magazine and former attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission, "does not mince words when sharing his views on the subject: “Pension fraud … 38 Studios… these are the greatest crimes ever perpetrated in the history of the state.”
Losses:
N/A
X-Factors: Can he run successfully on the failures of pension reform?
Momentum: Flat
Matt Brown (D)
Wins:
Brown may be smelling blood on the PawSox issue with Gina Raimondo -- each week the Raimondo message is ever changing. Raimondo blew up Mattiello's newest proposal on Friday.
Brown charges, "The latest PawSox proposal is more of the same. There’s no way revenue will be there to pay these bonds and taxpayers will be on the hook.
The entire effort to get the taxpayers of Rhode Island to subsidize the PawSox -- a corporation owned by a group of billionaires -- must end.
The people of Rhode Island struggling to make ends meet shouldn’t have to subsidize a corporation owned by a group of billionaires. They can build this proposed stadium themselves.
If you own a business, you should make the investment, take the risk and reap the profits. That’s how the free market works. What’s happening here is corporate socialism: government taking taxpayers money and subsidizing a private corporation.
This effort to compel Rhode Island taxpayers to subsidize billionaire owners has hurt the PawSox brand. Rhode Islanders are smart - they know they’re getting fleeced and they’re angry about it. A team that used to be of and for the local community is now owned by a group that seems to be solely out to maximize their own profits. I think that’s at least part of the reason attendance at PawSox games is down.
Instead of another taxpayer giveaway to another wealthy corporation, the state should meet its Medicaid obligations, cease raiding 911 emergency services and address the real problems facing Rhode Islanders. Our political leaders always take care of the rich, connected and powerful while the people are forgotten and the state fails to meet basic needs."
Losses:
Needs to explain the John Lewis claim.
X-Factor: Cha-ching -- PawSox issue may be the winner to build some momentum.
Momentum: Down
Giovanni Feroce (R)
Wins:
No press releases. No press events.
Losses:
Crickets.
X-Factor: What happened to the man of action?
Momentum: Down
Joe Trillo (I)
Wins:
Trillo continues a Trumpesque narrative. This could be a winning formula to get him into the teens or more.
Losses:
Still needs to prove he can expand beyond the Trump-base.
X-Factor: Trump, Trump, Trump. Could this be a winning formula to get him in the race?
Momentum: Down
Paul Roselli (D)
Wins: Quiet week for Roselli.
Losses:
N/A
X-Factors: N/A
