Instead of fighting for an industry that's doing its best to foster addictions, kill customers and ruin lives, why not focus some attention on new industries that will carry North Carolina in the future?

U.S. senators began debate Tuesday on legislation that would allow the Food and Drug Administration to regulate cigarettes, an idea that has the strong backing of public health advocates across the country.

Standing in their way were the two senators from North Carolina.

Republican Richard Burr and Democrat Kay Hagan teamed up for the first significant issue in their short time together in the Senate, offering arguments to weaken a popular bill that, they fear, could decimate a historic industry in their state.

Read the rest of this article at Charlotte.com.

Your health vs. the tobacco industry: