WASHINGTON — Richard M. Burr, the Republican tobacco-state senator who tried a filibuster this week against a bill that would allow the Food and Drug Administration to regulate the cigarette industry, flew home to North Carolina for the weekend, conceding that the landmark legislation was likely to pass next week.
Senator Richard M. Burr gave up a filibuster against the bill.
Although a Senate filibuster killed a similar measure in 1998, times have apparently changed. Mr. Burr acknowledged Thursday that his effort would probably be blocked by a cloture vote that the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, has scheduled for Monday evening. “Clearly the cloture motion will pass,” Mr. Burr said in an interview.
“Probably with flying colors,” David Ward, his press secretary, added.
After that, a final vote on the tobacco control measure could come Wednesday, Senate staff members said.
The House has already passed almost identical legislation, and President Obama has indicated he will sign the measure.
Tobacco regulation used to be a fight to the death in Congress, but now Mr. Burr stood largely alone in the filibuster effort. (more…)