Government wants admissions from tobacco companies

[February 24, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Justice Department wants to require the tobacco industry to admit publicly that smoking causes a multitude of medical problems, killing 1,200 Americans every day.

The department released the hard-hitting proposed statements Wednesday after winning U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler's approval to place them in the public record. The judge ruled in 2006 that the tobacco industry had concealed the dangers of smoking for decades. If the judge approves, the proposed statements by the cigarette-makers would become the remedy to ensure the companies don't repeat the violation. The case was brought by the government against the industry in 1999. The industry sought 90 days to respond to the government's proposed "corrective statements," but the judge denied the request. [Associated Press; By PETE YOST] Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.