Taft right to veto legislation supported by big tobacco

It is disappointing to learn that local state representatives Anthony Latell, D-67th, and Sylvester Patton, D-64th, and state Sens. Robert Hagan, D-33rd, and Tim Ryan, D-32nd, appear to have been taken in by the Phillip-Morris-USA plan to undermine Ohio's community boards of health.
The latest incarnation of the tobacco industry's plan to subvert public health comes in the form of Senate Bill 128, which would take authority for community health away from the jurisdiction of the independent boards of health. It would permit health board decisions to be over-ridden by local political entities which are susceptible to the influence of campaign contributions and other kinds of pressure.
Hagan and Ryan were two of the initial sponsors of S.B. 128. Latell and Patton voted Senate Bill 128 out of the House Committee on which they serve. To his credit, Gov. Bob Taft has vowed to veto the legislation if it reaches his desk.
In documents uncovered when the states' attorneys general sued the tobacco industry and won a multibillion dollar settlement, Phillip-Morris executives make clear their plan for Ohio:
Lobbyist influence: Lobbyist Jim Pontarelli described how a piece of legislation "crafted" for Ohio would work. "The legislation doesn't prevent boards of health from proposing bans," he said "and it doesn't violate home rule; it just imposes a bureaucratic nightmare of hoops boards must jump through before they can get their smoking ban proposals on the books."
Pretty crafty, indeed.
During the at least three months it would take for boards of health to do their duty for the people they serve, tobacco lobbyists could "marshal retailers and other allies to generate letters, opinion pieces, etc. ... and get a real shot at elected officials."
We'd hate to think that the campaign contributions made to Latell, Patton and Hagan by the RJR-Nabisco PAC -- that's RJR as in R.J. Reynolds, the multi-billion dollar cigarette maker -- or by the Phillip Morris of Ohio PAC would influence their votes.
But the tobacco industry's legislative influence is nothing if not insidious. It reaches beyond the readily traceable contributions that show up on campaign reports.
Hidden donations: Neither newcomers Ryan nor state Rep. John Boccieri, D-57th, have taken money directly from the tobacco industry. However, their political campaigns received hefty infusions from the Ohio Senate Democrats and the House Democratic Caucus Fund respectively. Boccieri also received contributions from the campaign committees of Rep. Jack Ford and Dan Metelsky. They, and the Senate and House funds, all received thousands of dollars from RJR and Phillip Morris PACs.
When the time comes to call in the chips, it will be interesting to see whose arms are twisted by tobacco money and who is able to stand up for public health.