LOD: Big Tobacco’s Smoke Screen

Big Tobacco has dropped from its ranking at the top of big contributors to federal candidates, but the industry is still spending millions to advance its political agenda in less visible ways. A new report from the Center for Responsive Politics tracks millions going into 527 committees and leadership PACs and notes that the Citizens United decision invites the industry to hide its money behind a haze of mystery groups. “One thing the tobacco industry has done is stay out of the public view and disguise its efforts in politics,” says Stanton Glantz, director of the Center for Tobacco Research and Control. “With the rise of this undisclosed money, it is hard to know what they’re doing.” Nevertheless, the CRP report identifies the top recipients of tobacco largess, led by Sen. Richard Burr in the 2010 election cycle, as well as hot issues the industry intends to influence.