1999 Assembly Joint Resolution 15
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: requesting Congress to enact legislation that would specify that no portion of the money received by the states as part of the settlement with tobacco companies may be withheld, offset or claimed by the federal government.
Whereas, the state of Wisconsin, together with 45 other states, has initiated litigation against the tobacco industry seeking damages and other relief for the alleged misconduct of the tobacco industry; and
Whereas, the claims against the tobacco industry include the recovery of damages for the violation of consumer protection and antitrust laws, for common law conspiracy and for the expenditure of public funds for health care services; and
Whereas, the tobacco industry has agreed to a proposed settlement of the states' litigation, which includes the states' recovery of substantial money damages; and
Whereas, the states, which initiated the litigation and settlement of legal claims for the violation of a number of state laws by the tobacco industry, should recover the full amount of damages in the proposed settlement without any offset or withholding by the federal government; and
Whereas, the federal department of health and human services does not and should not have a claim to any portion of the funds agreed to in the tobacco settlement as payments to the states for damages, based on receipt by the states of federal funds for Medicaid costs; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature request that the Congress of the United States enact legislation that would specify that no portion of the money received by the states as part of the tobacco settlement or of any other resolution of the tobacco litigation may be withheld, offset or claimed by the federal government or by any agency of the federal government; and, be it further
Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide copies of this joint resolution to the members of this state's congressional delegation, the clerk of the U.S. house of representatives and the secretary of the U.S. senate.
