Big Tobacco and State Government Covert Partnership Exposed in New Awareness Campaign

Grassroots advocacy site spotlights covert partnership between Big Tobacco and State Government

Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) August 17, 2004 -- http://www.StatesOnTheTake.com, a grassroots advocacy site which obtained and published the Privileged and Confidential" Memo #03-111 of September 12, 2003 by the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG"), launches a media awareness campaign today that sheds even more light on the ongoing covert partnership between state governments and Big Tobacco. This partnership was created by the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA"), signed in 1998 to preclude Big Tobacco from having to defend against further lawsuits in exchange for annual pay-offs to each state. Pay-offs consisted of a percentage of "Big Tobacco" sales.

S. George Alfonso, in house counsel for http://www.StatesOnTheTake.com will be a guest of Dick Hunters Dallas radio talk show tonight, Tuesday August 17, on KTCK The Ticket", 1310 AM, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (CDT). Mr. Alfonsos two-hour appearance will be broadcast live on the Internet at http://www.theticket.com. Mr. Alfonso will share additional insights on the biggest, kept secret this year in election politics -- the pro-active attempts by state governors and attorneys general -- Republicans and Democrats, to create a de-facto Big Tobacco monopoly."

According to Alfonso, the initial response to http://www.StateSOnTheTake.com has been overwhelming. Individuals across the country have gained secure access to view the Privileged and Confidential" Memo from NAAG. The memo clearly spells out and authorizes the game plan and directives to governors and attorneys general, both Republican and Democratic, to suppress the free market of tobacco products and the rights of citizens to purchase products made and sold by small independent non-Big Tobacco companies.

Mr. Alfonso and host Dick Hunter will be taking phone calls during the show. Mr. Alfonso invites listeners and web site visitors to share their thoughts by calling or visiting http://www.StatesOnTheTake.com Speak Out" forum or answering the one question poll on the main page.

Contact Information:     

S. George Alfonso

214-350-5584

info@StatesOnTheTake.com

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