[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 50 (Wednesday, April 29, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H2443-H2444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE TRUTH ABOUT STOPPING TEENAGE SMOKING

  (Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, some people say their primary 
reason for supporting new tobacco taxes is protecting children, but 
these same people have constantly dropped the ball when it comes to 
protecting children in other areas. So I get a little suspicious when I 
am asked to support a cigarette tax as a way to save the children.
  Consider this. Many folks who say they support a cigarette tax as a 
way of protecting teenagers are all too happy to allow my 13-year-old 
daughter to go to a Title 10 clinic and be counseled on having an 
abortion without my or her mother's consent. So much for protecting 
children from dangerous influences. So much for saving children.
  Furthermore, many people who support a cigarette tax as a way to stop 
teenage smoking will not lift a finger

[[Page H2444]]

to stop some public schools from giving my daughters free condoms 
without my permission. So much for protecting children from dangerous 
influences.
  Also, Mr. Speaker, some people who say they are working to prevent 
teenagers from smoking will not lift a finger to prevent kids from 
getting access to free drug needles. So much for protecting children 
from dangerous influences.
  Furthermore, some who say they are in favor of a cigarette tax as a 
means to protect children are not in favor of allowing kids to organize 
prayer in school. Thanks to these people, groups of kids cannot 
organize prayer and talk about protection today.
  Think about it, America. Is a cigarette tax a plan to save our 
children from smoking cigarettes or is it really a plan about helping 
Washington, D.C., helping itself to more power and more money to fund 
more government bureaucracy?

                          ____________________