Video: Congress Passes Massive Tobacco Overhaul

If you love your smokes spicy and your Camel billboards next to schools, we've got news for you out of Washington.

Today Congress passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, a bill that gives the Food and Drug Administration the responsibility to regulate tobacco products. The Senate passed the bill toughening tobacco laws by 79-17 Thursday, and the House vote today was 307 to 97. The bill now goes to President Obama, a former smoker who has struggled to kick the habit, who said he will sign it immediately.

Does this really make a difference in your life? Actually it does. Here's how:

* First, it says the FDA regulations will supercede weaker state laws, a major expansion of federal power;
* The bill bans the words "light" or "mild" in tobacco advertising, as well as any words that give the impression that one cigarette is less dangerous than another;
* It bans flavored tobacco products, like cloves or cappuccino (yes, they exist);
* It requires companies to submit a complete list of ingredients in the tobacco, paper, filter and other components, and allows the FDA to require the removal of any additive it says is dangerous;
* It requires this list of ingredients on all labels, which will itemize extra chemicals added to tobacco products;
* The bill restricts tobacco marketing to children, such as establishing a minimum distance between a tobacco billboard and a school.

Finally, the legislation applies to all tobacco products, not just cigarettes, and it passes all of the additional costs of new regulations back to the tobacco companies.

What is the broader political significance of all this?

First, it shows the regional marginalization of the Republican party in Congress. With Democrats' power concentrated everywhere but in the Southern, tobacco producing states, the bill sailed through Congress with a speed that was unimaginable just a few years ago. Sen. Chuck Schumer said this week that passing a tobacco bill would have been a top accomplishment of the year in past Congresses, but this year, it's just the beginning of major reforms.

Second, the debate on the bill did the unthinkable today, flipping the usual arguments over abstinence; Democrats contended that abstinence from tobacco is the only safe course for young people, and Republicans said Americans should choose for themselves what's dangerous and what's not.

Finally, it gave Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) a chance to say the words that have never been uttered in Congress in the history of the Republic: "Go ahead and you smoke your lettuce." Video below, thanks to PD'er Lynn Sweet: