1.   Because the plan is designed to be a national settlement, the tobacco companies could withdraw if not enough states join.

2.   Both of those initiatives served as models for the national settlement.

3.   A national settlement with tobacco companies appears so imminent that Florida leaders are talking about their tobacco lawsuit in West Palm Beach in the past tense.

4.   A national settlement would require congressional approval, and Republican leaders in Congress have said lawmakers are not likely to take up the matter this year.

5.   All states will receive a share of the proceeds of a national settlement based on their population and estimates of state Medicaid costs of treating ill smokers.

6.   BURIAL -- Florida and several states approve a national settlement over burial insurance.

7.   Brooke Group is seeking exemption from the national settlement because it would force the company into bankruptcy reorganization.

8.   But his aides have yet to decide if the national settlement would be seen as a bold strike or a sop to tobacco interests.

9.   But only Congress can offer tobacco firms the limited protection from individual and class-action suits that is included in the national settlement.

10.   But they acknowledged that they are looking for an outcome that will build support for a national settlement that they can accept.