Both of Nebraska's U.S. senators have voted for a bill intended to drastically curtail tobacco ads and ban candied tobacco products aimed at young people.
The Senate voted 79-17 on Thursday to give the government extensive new powers to decide how tobacco companies will make and market their products.
Sen. Ben Nelson says in Nebraska alone, $537 million is spent each year on health care costs directly caused by tobacco. The Democrat says cutting tobacco use is a win-win.
Nebraska's Republican, Sen. Mike Johanns, says as a former smoker himself, he's familiar with tobacco marketing "designed to encourage our younger population to smoke ..." Johanns says that is something Congress should aggressively address.
