Fire-Safe Cigarette Bills Discussed in Salem, Oregon
For the first time, there was opposition to the bills, including an attorney representing tobacco companies.
Opponents to the bills say new cigarette standards are unproven and bad for business, while supporters say you cannot put a price on lives.
In a KATU test last month, we showed how fire-safe cigarettes go out within minutes when they are left alone, while regular cigarettes smolder and can eventually ignite a dangerous fire.
On Thursday, supporters of fire-safe cigarette bills showed that test to the Senate Commerce Committee.
They say new standards are long overdue.
"If any of you have ever smoked yourselves, you know that a pipe, if not puffed on, goes out, you know that a cigar, if not puffed on, goes out, but there is something about commercially, mass-produced cigarettes," Tim Birr, Retired Fire District Chief, told the committee.
"The cost to implement this legislation in Oregon is minimal," said Nancy Orr, State Fire Marshal.
That is where a difference of opinion begins.
Cigarette vendors say non-uniform state laws could be bad for business and for states that might lose tax revenue.
"Especially if we have one formulation and Washington and California have another," explained Chris Girard, CEO for Plaid Pantries.
Two tobacco companies sent a Washington D.C. attorney to argue before the committee that if laws are needed, they should be federal.
"If you find the data from New York indicates that these are preventing fires, are you going to be leading the charge at the federal level to make this nationwide?" asked Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland.
"I can't predict what the outcome of that equation will be. I know there will be action in Washington, that's certain," replied Jim Goold, Tobacco company attorney.
"There are cigarettes that in the past were thought to be fire-safe or much safer, which turned out, when you tested them on common household materials, it didn't work that way," Goold told KATU News outside the committee meeting.
New York is the only state to require that all cigarettes sold in that state are fire-safe.
Right now, Oregon is one of 11 states with pending legislation for safer cigarettes.