House Backs Funding for Justice Department Tobacco Lawsuit

WASHINGTON-The House voted to allow the Justice Department to tap funds from three other federal departments to help pay for pursuing a lawsuit against the tobacco industry. Attorney General Janet Reno had said that without funds from the Departments of Health and Human Services, Defense, and Veterans’ Affairs, the government would be unable to go forward with the suit to recover $20 billion in federal funds spent on treating tobacco-related illnesses.