Hightower and Cornyn: Strange Bedfellows

To the editor of The Austin Chronicle,
    Jim Hightower’s March 2 “Hightower Report” described a bill that would authorize FDA regulation of the tobacco industry. Hightower suggested that Chronicle readers contact Sen. Edward Kennedy’s office at a Washington, D.C., phone number for more information.
    A long-distance call is not necessary. Perhaps inadvertently, Hightower failed to mention that U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas is the chief co-sponsor of SB 625, and the bill is popularly known in Washington as the Kennedy-Cornyn bill. Sen. Cornyn’s office in Austin can be reached at 469-6034.
    Sen. Cornyn’s ongoing support for this legislation is significant. Because of Senate rules and a close partisan division, very little legislation is approved by Congress unless there is backing from members of both political parties. This legislation, designed to provide regulatory oversight of tobacco products, their sale and advertising – and discourage smoking by young people – is an important example of bipartisan cooperation.