WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT SEEKS $14B IN TOBACCO CASE

The government largely stayed its course in the racketeering trial against Big Tobacco despite steady criticism, asking a federal judge to impose $14 billion in penalties.

Cigarette makers yesterday said they would ask U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler to throw out the proposed remedies.

The Justice Department’s request, filed shortly before midnight Monday, fleshed out proposals that prosecutors put forward during the trial’s closing arguments earlier this month.

The government asked for companies to pay for a $10 billion, five-year smoking cessation program and a $4 billion, 10-year education campaign to counter tobacco marketing. Prosecutors also asked for cigarette makers to reduce youth smoking levels by 42% by 2013, or pay stiff fines.

Philip Morris attorney Dan Webb said “every single one of the remedies is legally defective,” and companies will ask Judge Kessler to dismiss the government’s proposals. Though Judge Kessler could choose to fashion her own penalties, Mr. Webb said prosecutors have not offered enough evidence to warrant doing so.

“If all the remedies are legally defective, a judgment could be entered now in favor of the tobacco companies,” he said.

– Associated Press

SUPREME COURT STEPS INTO ABORTION DISPUTE

The Supreme Court yesterday intervened again in a long-running fight over protests outside abortion clinics. Justices said they will consider whether an anti-abortion group’s campaign against abortions, conducted outside these clinics 20 years ago, may have violated federal racketeering and extortion laws.

The court has already dealt with the same case several times before. Most recently justices ruled in 2003 that the laws were wrongly used against anti-abortion leader Joseph Scheidler and others. That ruling, written by Chief Justice Rehnquist, lifted a nationwide ban on protests that interfere with abortion clinic business. An appeals court, however, questioned whether the ban should be renewed on other legal grounds.

The announcement yesterday came as justices resolved about 20 cases that were still pending from their term. The court met for the last time Monday before beginning a three-month break.

The abortion case is one of two to reach the Supreme Court recently. A month ago, the court in a surprise announcement said that it would hear an appeal involving a parental notification law from New Hampshire. Both cases will be argued late this year.

– Associated Press

SENATE REPUBLICANS TO BOOST SPENDING ON VETERANS’ PROGRAMS

With an unexpected number of wounded troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, Senate Republicans hurried yesterday to cover what could be a politically damaging $1 billion miscalculation in money needed for veterans health care.

They prepared to add roughly $1.5 billion to veterans programs as Democrats, who had tried to add billions to the veterans budget this spring, chided the White House and Republican leaders. “This is not news to this side of the aisle,” said Rep. Alcee Hastings, a Democrat of Florida. “We’ve known all along the funding was woefully inadequate.”

The Senate Republicans’ swift decision cuts off Democratic attempts to boost veterans spending with their own $1.4 billion amendment to a pending spending bill. The Veterans’ Affairs Department told lawmakers last week that it needs an extra $1 billion for health care this year.

The Veterans Affairs secretary, Jim Nicholson, said the agency can rearrange its spending accounts to cover the shortfall and rejected the need for an emergency cash infusion. House Republicans stood by Mr. Nicholson, who urged lawmakers at House and Senate hearings not to view the funding shortfall as a crisis. With a 217-189 vote along party lines, the House rejected an effort by Rep. Chet Edwards, a Democrat of Texas, to immediately provide another $1 billion for veterans.

“We’ve got plenty of time,” said House Appropriations committee chairman, Jerry Lewis, a Republican of California.

– Associated Press

SAUDI ARABIA’S AMBASSADOR TO AMERICA RESIGNS

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to America has resigned his position after more than 20 years, according to the Financial Times. Prince Bandar bin Sultan, 56, will remain at his post until Riyadh issues a formal announcement, which could take months.

A Saudi government official told the Times, “He is determined to go. But as far as there is no formal decree relieving him of his duties, he by default and by name remains ambassador.” Reasons cited for Prince Bandar’s leave-taking include ill health and a loss of influence in Riyadh.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun