John Ashcroft

Mr. ASHCROFT

Mr. ASHCROFT. I believe that they have increased this, the cost of this bill, by hundreds of billions of dollars.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I am not in a position to answer that question. I think the question is a very good question, but it would have to be addressed to the Senator from Massachusetts.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I am aware of that argument.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I do agree that a price rise is certainly not a foolproof strategy for reducing teen smoking. There are ways to reduce teen smoking, and a number of them are not included in this legislation.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I am deeply concerned about the creation of a black market which not only destabilizes any of the intentions of this bill, but probably would make cigarettes far more available to young people than they are in society today.

Mr. ASHCROFT. Indeed it was.

Mr. ASHCROFT. Indeed I am. Everyone is aware of that. We could submit that for the Record for which people could take judicial note.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I think it is pretty clear we can often find how hard someone has worked and studied by the nature of the questions they have asked. The nature of the questions you have asked is such that everyone can know that you have done perhaps as much work as anyone could possibly do in examining these issues.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I am aware of the statement of Dr. Kessler.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I am aware of that statement.

Mr. ASHCROFT. The Senator from Missouri will yield for an administrative question on the presumption and understanding that I retain the floor after the question has been asked.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I am aware of that.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I understand the Senator's position.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I am aware of the Senator's intention in that respect.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I am aware of the Senator's position in that regard.

Mr. ASHCROFT. If the Senator is talking about the opportunity to curtail debate and schedule a motion to table, that is one of the reasons I felt like I had to move to provide the kind of debate which I have provided, because without consultation, at least with me, about a timeframe for the debate suggested, there would be a motion to table. And that happened in the last issue I was seeking to discuss in the Senate. I purposely wouldn't allow individuals to cut off debate. There is lot of interest in this measure. I will personally do what I can to wrap up my participation. I will limit the amount of questions to which I will respond and make time available for others.

Mr. ASHCROFT. It would probably be something in the neighborhood of closer to over $3 in terms of the increase in the price of cigarettes.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I am aware of the fact that this would be a totally unique circumstance never before----

Mr. ASHCROFT. I am pleased that you would bring that to my awareness.

Mr. ASHCROFT. Yes. The debate this morning really helped, I think, to clarify the issue, that in England, for example, it is said that half of all cigarettes are sold on the black market.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I think that data is very instructive. It tells us something about the fact that the youth culture is not always predictable in terms of traditional economics, that the price may not be the determinant of whether individuals begin smoking as young people.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I am aware of it, and I am convinced that price is not the only determinant.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I am pleased to forward the article to the desk and ask for its inclusion in the Record.

Mr. ASHCROFT. Mr. President, I reassert my right to the floor and indicate that I would be pleased to yield to the minority manager of the bill for purposes of an administrative question, with the understanding that at the conclusion of his remarks, or question, I reacquire the right to the floor.

Mr. ASHCROFT. I am, I am in possession of the article, and I am grateful for the work of Mr. Meier.