In the first half on 1996, the major tobacco companies spent an additional $31 million to defeat the McCain bill, which would have raised cigarette taxes, funded an anti-tobacco campaign, and offered the industry limited protections from liability. In addition, the industry spent $40 million on a television ad campaign and contributed more than $8.2 million to candidates during the last election cycle. Brown and Williamson, the third largest cigarette maker set a record for one company, spending $24.9 million, six times the amount it spent in 1997. Philip Morris, the nations largest cigarette manufacturer, reported spending $23 million in lobbying expenditures last year. Industry critics and even seasoned Washington lobbyists were struck by the record spending.

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