When I recommended that the way to get rid of gun violence in The united states was to have one billionaire invest in the votes of Republicans in Congress and point out legislatures, I was going for walks a line between fact and satire. I believed that $1 billion would be plenty of to do the work (make the buy, sale or manufacture of assault weapons illegal), in tandem with a gun buyback software.

Very well, close friends, the tobacco sector is now executing that, but for way much less funds.

To hold off the hazard of rules building menthol cigarettes illegal, Reynolds American—maker of Newport and Camel cigarettes—has provided out nearly $6 million to much more than 800 legislators.

Menthol in cigarettes and flavored cigars could shortly be outlawed, as the US Meals and Drug Administration and point out legislatures cautiously put together to regulate or legislate them into background.

But just one tobacco huge — Reynolds American— is actively spreading thousands and thousands of bucks to hundreds of point out-stage political candidates and political motion committees, according to an interior company governance doc reviewed by Insider.

Cheapskates!