Just in case that doesn't do the trick, here's a backup.
Posted on 02/15/2006 6:37:23 AM PST by SheLion
RICHMOND, Va. - The Virginia Senate voted Monday to ban smoking in restaurants and virtually all other public places, an extraordinary sign of cultural change in a state that is home to the worldwide headquarters of Philip Morris and whose agricultural economy has been rooted in tobacco farming for almost 400 years.
The bill is unlikely to survive review in the House of Delegates. Yet its passage on the floor of the Senate -- where smoking has never been formally banned and lawmakers lit up openly even until the late 1990s -- signaled mounting popular support for smoking restrictions.
The chamber narrowly approved the measure after a short but intense debate over consumer choice and the public health risks of secondhand smoke.
Senate Bill 648, sponsored by a Republican from Roanoke, would make smoking illegal in all public workplaces with the exception of certain tobacco stores and offices. The prohibition would extend to bars, restaurants and bowling alleys.
"This is not about whether I prefer or do not prefer the smell of smoke," said Sen. J. Brandon Bell II, the sponsor. "This is about public health. . . . The research has come forward over the years, and it's shown us that secondhand cigarette smoke is a very insidious health problem."
The American Cancer Society said the Senate vote is a dramatic victory in efforts to educate the public about the dangers of secondhand smoke.
"This shows that Virginia is ready to move its way to where the mainstream is on health issues," said Keenan Caldwell, director of government relations for the group's regional office. "People are starting to see, even in Virginia and other tobacco-growing states, that there is proven science about the harmful effects of secondhand smoke."
Smoking limits gain popularity
Caldwell said the shift has come as lawmakers realize the growing popularity of smoking limits, especially in voter-rich suburbs. Radio ads paid for by the cancer society and several other health groups have been playing in Richmond and Virginia Beach for two weeks, urging residents to contact lawmakers to express support.
"It makes you really pay attention," Bell said. "I may have reservations about increased regulations [on businesses], but this is something that people seem to want to be regulated."
If the Virginia bill were to become law, public areas in virtually the entire Washington region could soon be smoke-free. The D.C. Council approved a restaurant ban, which is now under review by Congress. Likewise, Montgomery and Prince George's counties have eliminated indoor smoking, and the Maryland legislature is contemplating extending the rules to workplaces statewide.
The Virginia ban would include banks, bars, educational facilities, health care facilities, hotel and motel lobbies, laundromats, public transportation, reception areas, retail food production and marketing establishments, retail services establishments, retail stores, shopping malls, sports arenas, theaters and waiting rooms. Hotels could also set aside no more than 25 percent of their rooms for smokers.
House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) promised to oppose the bill. Kevin Hall, spokesman for Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), said the governor also opposes a statewide ban. But, he said, "it's a little soon for a veto threat."
Philip Morris stands by:
Virginia is the nation's third top tobacco-growing state, and the leaf remains the state's second-most profitable crop. Sculpted wreaths of tobacco leaves ring the ceiling of the Senate chamber in the Capitol. And just a few minutes south of the statehouse, the Philip Morris Richmond plant produces about 700 million cigarettes every day. In the summer, the smell of processed tobacco often hangs in the air of the capital city.
For years in Richmond, a single word of opposition from Philip Morris lobbyists was enough to doom a proposed bill. But as in other states considering similar bans, the company this year took no public stand on the measure and declined to work against it. "We are currently reviewing the legislation," said Jennifer Golisch, a spokeswoman for the company.
Instead, opposition has been spearheaded by the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association, which represents restaurants. The group lobbied vigorously against an early version of the bill that would have given localities the ability to regulate indoor smoking, complaining that the option would lead to a patchwork of regulations and pit businesses in neighboring counties against one another.
So Bell moved forward with the statewide smoking ban and picked up enough support to pass the bill, 21 to 18.
Those who voted against the measure said the marketplace is already pushing many restaurants to ban smoking, without government regulation. They said businesses should have the right to cater to their customers.
"We're talking about a legal product that's licensed and sold in Virginia -- that's taxed and taxed and taxed," said Sen. Charles R. Hawkins (R-Pennsylvania), who represents tobacco growers. "Now we're saying we know better than people who operate their own businesses what they can do."
We've lost the fight. But at least they are coming after fat people next
and in n.j. alcohol, moms against alcohol want to raise taxes on beer, wine & liqueur.....new jersey, "come see for yourself"....
ROFL!!!!!
Which reminds me, I need to email mine!!!!!
Like Virginia. You and the rest of your ugly hatred filled anti-smoker losers were told to use personal responsibility in Virginia today. If you don't like smoking, there are plenty of places here that cater to you, leave the rest of us alone.
Senator Bell is an idiot, as is the restaurant owner in Virginia Beach.......I would love to know what 3 restaurants he owns so I could get in touch with him.
he claims he will be at a disadvantage businesswise if he prohibits smoking and so he wants everyone to prohibit it? What kind of an idiot is he?
Bill Utz, the Arlington attorney is a good guy, I know him. He's a straight shooter.
that doesn't surprise me!!!!
LOLOL!!!!!!!!!!
About 20 minutes after I got the news, for some reason my normally very quiet across the street neighbors set off a bunch of fireworks, up in the air kind of starburst stuff, not just firecrackers.
That timing was so perfect for me tonight!!!!!!!!!
Just in case that doesn't do the trick, here's a backup.
To hell with those "gloat-free" victories, that's what I say!
Any chance of getting rid of him?
Here's his homepages
Brandon Bell - Republican Roanoke
I'm going to fire a gloating email to him
I've called many of these delegates over the last couple of days, mostly the Republican ones telling them I thinking of moving there and I'm trying to get away from the Liberals in the Northeast and you're pulling this B.S., that the only ones for this are ultra liberals who won't be voting for you anyhow. I didn't get any of the delegates themselves but I've had some nice chats with some of their assistants.
I would love to know what 3 restaurants he owns so I could get in touch with him. he claims he will be at a disadvantage businesswise if he prohibits smoking and so he wants everyone to prohibit it? What kind of an idiot is he?
Peabody's, Shorebreak and Hot Tuna (source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A19159-2004Mar23?language=printer)
Here's their homepages
http://www.shorebreakvb.com/about.html
http://www.hottunavb.com/
http://www.peabodysvirginiabeach.com/home.html
Oh and sorry, I shouldn't have posted the article, it would have made a good thread on it's own (especially to stick it to the antis here), when I saw your thread I checked to news and it just popped up and my excitement got the better of me.
Couldn't help myself!!!!!
Please don't apologize........Thank you for getting it posted.....between email and the phone I have not had an opportunity to even search for news this evening.
I'm sure there will be at least one thread posted in the morning about this....I can't do it tonight, I'm too tired and want some sleep.
Senator Bell will also be getting an email from me tomorrow. It will be along the lines of the one I sent last night to the idiot reporter at the Times Dispatch who ONLY used paid antis for quotes in one of his articles.
Thanks for the links to the restaurants........I will be getting in touch.
And that is one of the reasons we love you, Gabz.
Keep up the enthusiasm and fight it wherever you see it.
No, Virginia Taxes Everyone. We have now become South Maryland. Thanks freakin liberals and their votes
George chews, doesn't he?
Thanks darlin'!!!!
All the adreneline I've been working on for the past 10 day or so is gone, completely and totally gone. I am one spent puppy.
Take it from a fairly recent Delaware transplant (3 years in April) we're a lot better off than Delaware. Which is as bad if not worse than Maryland.
We had 'happy hour' after work today and two thirds of the people smoked! I had no idea since I'd never been with them before. We went to an Irish pub in Falls Church.
My three non-alcoholic beers and I stunk up the car on the way home but it was our choice where to spend the evening and my other non-smoking friends and I wanted to be together with our smoking friends, so it's worth it.
Besides, everyone knows such decisions should be left up to each individual business establishment, anyway.
Besides, everyone knows such decisions should be left up to each individual business establishment, anyway.
Apparently not in the State Senate, considering they passed this nonsense.
But I thank you for your support.
Our favorite Mexican restaurant here on the Eastern Shore is non-smoking. Doesn't bother me in the least, it was the owner's decision.
I'm still freaking out about the VA Beach owner who supports the ban, but feels he would be at a business disadvantage if he took his places non-smoking and so supports the ban. HELLO - is anybody with a brain there? He's afraid to take a chance and so wants to force everyone else to do it?
I rarely venture across the bridge/tunnel, but do wind up in Maryland and Delaware for various reasons on a fairly regular basis. The bars in Maryland on the Eastern Shore are going bonkers over the proposal there, they are making a killing because of the ban in Delaware. I know because I still lived in Delaware when it went into effect and we regularly crossed the state line to go to a bar in Maryland.
You may want to think about this. Nasty people!
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