Thursday, April 24, 1997
Morales plans re-election bid
By RICHARD HORN
Staff Writer
Attorney General Dan Morales plans to run for re-election next
year to see several projects through to the end, including the
state's lawsuit against tobacco companies.
The former Democratic state legislator, elected attorney general
in 1990 and re-elected in 1994, doubts the $14 billion suit, which
he expects to argue if it goes to trial, will be concluded by
the time his second term ends.
"I never would have anticipated staying so long, to tell
you the truth," he said Tuesday in a meeting with <I>Reporter-News<I>
editors. "But I'd like to stay probably one more term; there
are going to be some interesting things coming up."
Near the top of that list is the 22-state legal battle against
the tobacco industry. The Texas suit is scheduled to go to trial
in September.
Morales said it's possible the major cigarette makers, led
by Philip Morris and RJR Nabisco, will reach settlement with the
attorneys general of eight states.
But the tobacco companies want any settlement to include blanket
immunity from any future civil action concerning smoking-related
health problems.
Morales said that's out of the question, but he added he's
encouraged the sides are talking.
"If they give a little on their demand with regard to
future liability, I think we can figure something out," he
said. "But we're not going to agree to a single delay for
the sake of allowing the settlement negotiations to continue."
The lawsuit is designed to recoup money Texas taxpayers have
been forced to spend on state medical care due to smoking illnesses.
It also seeks an end to what Morales charges are deceptive marketing
and advertising practices.
"This is much more than just an attempt to seek compensation,"
he said. "It's a traditional enforcement action. These guys
have lied, they've deceived, they've conspired, they've fabricated
evidence, they've falsified scientific and medical results."
On other issues, Morales said:
n He would like to see an independent or bipartisan commission
take over the state's redistricting chores, but he acknowledged
there's little support for that among lawmakers, who want to retain
that power.
"It's 1997 and the 1990 census is still not set,"
he said. "The new census is coming out and we're still in
court on the last decade's set of numbers."
n The Texas Senate was acting out of retribution when it voted
recently to remove child support enforcement from his agency.
The move already has been rejected by House members, he said.
Some senators, he said, were angry about his decisions on affirmative
action, while others criticized him for opinions on redistricting.
"They were very blunt in terms of telling me why they
did it," he said. "There was zero debate. A motion was
made, a vote was taken, all in the space of about 30 seconds.
It was not something, in my opinion, to be taken seriously."
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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