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Sunday, August 31, 1997

Mauro raises questions about Bush's aides link to tobacco industry

AUSTIN (AP) -- A spokesman for likely Democratic gubernatorial candidate Garry Mauro on Saturday demanded that Republican Gov. George W. Bush explain a top aide's relationship to the tobacco industry.

Karl Rove, Bush's political adviser, was questioned last week about his consulting work for Philip Morris in a deposition for Texas' lawsuit against the tobacco industry to recoup costs associated with treating sick smokers.

The $14 billion federal lawsuit, from which Bush has distanced himself, is scheduled to go to trial next month.

Mauro spokesman Joe Cutbirth said reports about that deposition raise questions.

"The shine is coming off the Bush administration," Cutbirth said. "The governor should tell Texans everything he knew about his aide's work for tobacco interests."

Rove began working for Phillip Morris in 1991 and quit last year. He received $3,000 a month from the company for his consulting work, which he said consisted of giving the company advice on Texas politics and who to give money to.

Rove claims to have never talked about tobacco issues with Bush -- at the governor's insistence. However, he acknowledged distributing a poll, commissioned by Phillip Morris, to Bush's executive assistant, but said it was quickly thrown away.

Rove said he did not believe his dual role as a tobacco consultant and adviser to the governor posed a conflict.

"The tobacco thing was clearly four trial lawyers on a fishing expedition. I have no relevance whatsoever to the tobacco lawsuit," he said. "I'm absolutely convinced it was a political thing."

Representatives from Bush's office did not immediately return calls left at their homes by The Associated Press on Saturday.

However, Bush spokeswoman Karen Hughes previously has defended the governor's record on tobacco. "He signed some of the toughest tobacco legislation in the country this year," she said. "Governor Bush makes independent decisions."