Maybe the high price really was the reason for the tobacco executives' change of heart.
But, hey, tobacco executives have the right to be heard.
Growing political, regulatory and legal pressure on the industry has brought top tobacco executives to the negotiating table.
British American Tobacco executives asked if the company could take part in the first planning meeting, but the government said no.
Other candidates have also received contributions from tobacco executives.
Tobacco executives called the award ridiculous and said it would push the companies into bankruptcy.
The tobacco executive said that company lawyers would work with lawmakers to digest and organize the documents.
As tobacco executives see it, adult smokers have certain unfortunate tendencies.
American tobacco executives followed a two-track approach to the health dangers of cigarettes for more than 40 years.
Parrish became the tobacco executive most committed to ensuring that a deal was cut, and he took huge risks to make it happen.