ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 18, 1997 TAG: 9702180104
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.
For dozens of congressmen and congressional aides, getting caught up on tobacco-related issues meant spending the weekend at a lavish golf resort in a getaway sponsored by the Tobacco Institute.
The three-day annual legislative conference of the tobacco industry's lobbying group wrapped up Monday at the Phoenician resort.
Institute officials refused to say how many people attended, which members of Congress were there or what was on the agenda, but said the main topic of conversation was the new federal tobacco regulations taking effect Feb. 28. More regulations, set to take effect in August, are being fought in North Carolina federal court.
``This is a private meeting,'' said Walker Merryman, vice president of the institute. ``Since the furthest thing from our minds is making news, it's not public.''
Anti-tobacco groups condemned the meeting as a ``golf junket'' for lawmakers and placed newspaper advertisements around the country urging people to ask their representatives whether they attended.
The Tobacco Institute declined to say whether attending members of Congress came from tobacco-producing states such as Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Calls to pro-tobacco lawmakers from those four states were not returned Monday, including one to Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C. Coble's aide said Friday that the congressman would be at the resort.
Under new congressional ethics rules, legislators are barred from accepting most gifts from special interests, including recreational trips. However, they may accept privately paid travel for educational, fact-finding events that are consistent with the interests of their constituents.
Lawmakers who attend such events are required by law to fully disclose all expenses paid by the special interest within 30 days.
Merryman said the group paid for attendees' guests' coach air fare, hotel bills and food, but not golf.
Guests on their way into a breakfast meeting Monday refused to comment and an Associated Press reporter was asked by hotel security to leave the resort.
A reservations clerk who declined to identify himself said there had been more than 100 legislators and congressional aides at The Phoenician over the weekend, but only about 25 aides remained by Monday.
The FDA rules taking effect next week include a requirement for convenience store clerks to check identification of people who appear to be less than 27 years old who want to buy tobacco products.
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