In backroom negotiations that continued into last weekend, the White House hammered out a deal with G.O.P. Senator JOHN MCCAIN to modify his $518 billion antitobacco bill, which will be the subject of contentious debate in the Senate this week. Despite demands from leading Senate Democrats--and some Republicans--that the price of a pack of cigarettes be raised by $1.50 over five years, the Administration agreed to support McCain's more modest $1.10-a-pack hike. In return, the Arizona Senator strengthened the provisions that would penalize the industry for not meeting targets in reducing teen smoking. Also, McCain and the White House acted to...
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