THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412110053
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Long : 136 lines
In the foyer of U.S. Rep. Thomas J. Bliley's congressional suite is a framed display of the cigarette brands manufactured by Philip Morris USA, the largest private employer in his hometown of Richmond.
One wall of Bliley's inner office is consumed by a gigantic aerial photo of the company's cigarette manufacturing plant.
The pipe-smoking Bliley has gained dubious distinction as the tobacco industry's foremost advocate in Congress. He has criticized findings linking second-hand smoke to death, has opposed efforts to place federal regulations on public smoking and has fought attempts to increase cigarette taxes to fund health care reform.
And when Congress reconvenes in January to swear in its newly elected Republican majorities, no other politician in the country will have more sway over regulating cigarettes than Bliley. The 62-year-old Republican, derided by critics as ``the congressman from Philip Morris,'' is scheduled to become chairman of the House Commerce Committee, which oversees all federal legislation on tobacco.
Enraged anti-cigarette groups say Bliley's chairmanship may mean an end to recent progress in restricting public smoking and could threaten federal efforts to classify nicotine as an addictive drug. Noting that Bliley has received $98,000 in contributions from the tobacco industry since 1987 - more than any other member of Congress during the same time - many are calling for him to resign the chairmanship he has yet to assume.
``Obviously, we're not pleased,'' said John F. Banzhaf, founder of Action on Smoking and Health in Washington. ``Bliley's nothing more than a water boy for the tobacco industry. He has a direct conflict of interest with what should be one of the major thrusts of his committee - to protect the health of Americans.''
Joining the disgruntled chorus is Garry Trudeau, author of of the comic strip ``Doonesbury.'' In cartoons last week, Trudeau lampooned Bliley by portraying a tobacco industry official sipping champagne at a congressional hearing and discovering the chairman is ``squarely in my pocket.''
Bliley, 62, said during a recent interview that antismoking forces have become overzealous.
He suggested that the Democrat formerly in charge of a subcommittee overseeing smoking matters - Rep. Henry Waxman of California - had a vendetta against the tobacco industry. And he said that the panel's days of summoning tobacco executives for highly charged hearings before television cameras are over.
``Yes, I've been portrayed as a point man (for the tobacco industry),'' Bliley said. ``But that's because these hearings were going on, and I felt the witnesses before the committee should be treated with respect.''
A lanky man with sharp features, silver hair and an ever-present bow tie, Bliley fits the classic description of a mortician, which he once was. He's a quiet, formal type who works effectively behind the scenes and over the years has built a strong friendship with soon-to-be House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia. Gingrich backed Bliley for the chairmanship even though another Republican on the committee - Rep. Carlos J. Moorhead of California - had more seniority.
Although Bliley is dependably conservative, friends say it is wrong to categorize him as an ideologue. ``He's very fair, but very tough,'' said Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat from the District of Columbia who has worked closely with Bliley. ``When he gives you his word, you can absolutely depend on it.''
Bliley, a former Richmond mayor, was elected to Congress in 1980 and has never had a problem retaining his seat. He is known for providing top-notch constituent services, which friends say partially explains his strong defense of tobacco interests.
The other part of the explanation, they say, is that Bliley is staunchly laissez-faire when it comes to business. Unlike tobacco executives, Bliley acknowledges that cigarette smoking is a health risk and that nicotine is addictive, said Charles Boesel, spokesman for the congressman. But Bliley also argues that adults, once made aware of those facts, should be free to decide for themselves whether to smoke, Boesel added.
But critics say Bliley's defense of the tobacco industry has been excessive. In 1991, for example, Bliley summoned seven scientists from the Environmental Protection Agency to his office for individual grillings before the release of a report linking secondhand smoke to cancer and heart disease.
Banzhaf, who accompanied one of the scientists, accused Bliley of trying to thwart publication of the report. Bliley said he was merely trying ensure that the EPA followed proper scientific procedures. He accused the agency of conducting a biased study.
Bliley said he regards tobacco no differently than any other business concern. ``I'm a friend of business and industry,'' he said. ``I mean, we all have to work for a living . . . and if business doesn't do well, people lose jobs and the economy suffers.''
Bliley promised to be fair to anti-smoking interests and said he would not block the committee from considering tobacco restrictions. But he added that the 46-member panel might be too busy this year to spend much time on smoking.
The first order of business, he said, will be to act on bills related to the Contract With America - the 10-point Republican agenda calling for a series of fiscal reforms and changes to congressional rules. The Commerce Committee will consider several key elements of the contract: job creation, product-liability reforms and welfare reforms.
Later in the year, Bliley said, he will focus on cable television regulations and passing a clean water act.
Tobacco, however, may become too hot an issue for Bliley to ignore. Federal agencies are considering new regulations that could deeply restrict smoking. The Food and Drug Administration is studying whether nicotine should be classified as an addictive drug - an action that would bring the manufacture of cigarettes under strict government control. And the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is considering banning smoking from all workplaces.
Anti-smoking advocates dismayed by Bliley's chairmanship take solace in these developments.
``Progress won't stop,'' said Edmund M. Mierzwinski, director of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group in Washington. ``But instead of looking to Congress to restrict smoking, people will start looking to federal agencies and state governments.''
It is unclear whether Congress would be able to override federal agency regulations, and Bliley declined to say whether he would try. But Congress, which appropriates the budget for all agencies, can exert enormous influence over decisions by OSHA and the FDA.
Bliley said the federal government should not limit smoking. That matter, he said, should be left to state and local governments. And he issued a warning to agencies that might appear before his committee:
``I seek fairness and objectivity in whatever we're talking about in terms of oversight of federal agencies,'' he said. ``I say: do your homework, agencies. Whatever you're proposing should be based on strict science. What is the cost? What is the benefit?'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
by CNB