“I am writing on behalf of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. I don’t know if you saw it recently, but the Bush Administration is trying to let Big Tobacco off the hook to the tune of $120 billion! That’s right, in the final days of its ongoing lawsuit against Big Tobacco, the US Department of Justice reduced the amount of money they were seeking from the industry to pay for quit-smoking programs – from $130 billion to $10 billion! A $120 billion sellout – contradicting a government expert’s testimony in the very same trial.

Now, under pressure from Congress, the Justice Department is investigating whether political appointees ordered government lawyers to cave in a blatant political favor to the industry. But the story is clear: Big Tobacco has made millions in campaign contributions. And now they’re calling in a favor!

We’re planning a virtual protest on June 23 to show the Bush Administration that selling out the public health will not stand!

Would you consider providing a link to www.DontPardonBigTobacco.org and encourage your readers to join the campaign? You can also obtain more information on the lawsuit at http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/doj/.

Activists can send a letter to the Administration, write a letter to the editor, or sign up for the Virtual Protest that we’re holding on Thursday, June 23. We need your help to generate enough calls and letters to make them listen and not let Big Tobacco off the hook once again.”