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."
It was very tame because the focus was on things such as jet engine and rocket development. The medical were the "leaps" in cancer research. When they showed the posters, laws and film clips it really scared me as to the coincidence.
It's not a pity at all the way I see it! Then anti smokers are going to be paying a LOT more in taxes to make up what the smokers pay. I'm lovin' it. I can't wait to hear all the complaints from non-smoking tax payers. What excuse to complain do you think they will use?
LOL! Have to laugh to keep from crying.
The anti-smokers hate us can't stand our smell. However, do they have ANY idea how much money we are saving them? Well, one day in the future, they too, will be hit by the lawmakers.
When the government loses all that revenue from the cigarette taxes, they won't give up that revenue easily. So, some our very own anti-smokers are going to be hit and hit hard.
Gosh, I sure will hate to say 'WE TOLD YOU SO!' heh!
It's frightening. And they say History always repeats itself? God help us all.
I think it is telling that "it" is all about them. The entire world is to change to suit them. Never mind that smokers are using a legal product. I wonder how many of the anti's are obese?
Oh I know it. I used to work with an obese fellow. He didn't smoke, I did. And I never ever missed work from so much as even catching a cold. He was off sick a LOT from being overweight. He had sugar and some kind of skin disease, etc. It was sad to watch. That is why I am so irate that the government is spewing the lies that smokers are off 6.5 days more a year because we smoke. That's a big crock of chit!
I think it is telling that "it" is all about them. The entire world is to change to suit them. Never mind that smokers are using a legal product. I wonder how many of the anti's are obese?
SS, I grew up in the time of "Live and let live." We would never ever tell a neighbor to stop using a legal product and just knowing that our neighbors smoked didn't even matter one bit. But this mentality today is what I call The Dumbing Down of America.
Good for the Strawberry Street Cafe.........all businesses should have the choice they have. You should not be forcing all businesses to do so.
If all busiensses are forced to go non-smoker than the Strawberry Street Cafe will lose the market the owner created for himself. Why would you like to do that to him?
My favorite Mexican restaurant here on the Eastern Shore is non-smoking, the owner's choice. I still go there because it is his choice.
Thanks for the ping!
One other point I would like to make on the subject. How many smokers are also baby boomers? We are on the cusp of retirement. We will no longer be paying a lot of taxes and we will be drawing down our savings. Woe be to the people left.........smokers and non alike. They will be paying for all these government programs by themselves. Let the complaints begin. I'll be laughing my butt off.
LOL
One other point I would like to make on the subject. How many smokers are also baby boomers? We are on the cusp of retirement. We will no longer be paying a lot of taxes and we will be drawing down our savings. Woe be to the people left.........smokers and non alike. They will be paying for all these government programs by themselves. Let the complaints begin. I'll be laughing my butt off.
I'm a baby boomer. So lets hold hands! And listen to the coming complaints of those about to be screwed big time. And not in a good way either, I must remind. haha!
If you want to get into an argument with the poster-in-cheif, bring up economic of smoking, it's a hoot and supports my call for a passing grade in basic economics to get a high school diploma.
According to her, once the smoking ban went into effect in Florida the prices of food in resturuants went up because there was lower demand (i.e. fewer customers). Fact is the observation is CORRECT, prices did go up, because the resturant business in Florida is healthy. And only a dimwit (GM) would raise prices in the face of lower demand.
"If smokers stop going out to private businesses that can no longer accommodate them, and if smokers started rolling their own cigarettes which is quite legal. (All cities and towns have a Smoke Shop for the supplies), then the lawmakers WILL have to go after someone else to make up for all the lost revenue that the smokers have dumped into the economy all these years. The states are going to lose big time!"
Not really, just tax the tobacco. The least bad taxes are voluntary taxes like tobacco and the lottery. I love the lottery. I want more. Bigger pots and more dopes that buy tickets.
VA does not have a population of 11.2M people.
I saw a report of a study a year or two ago (wish I had kept a copy) that said people are more likely to find a smell objectionable when they've been told it's potentially harmful. (IIRC, they used smells that people wouldn't be likely to recognize.)
"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."
If smokers lose support of big tobacco they are doomed. This is why we had to take it direct to the people in Florida and won.
This guy is stuck on stupid. I told him countless times yesterday that I was quoting a guy who actually LIVES in Florida. Yet he continues to try to badger ME with his BS words of harassment:
Actually, if people would start getting menu's from these restaurants before the bans, then get menu's after the bans are implemented, it would help.
In Florida prices increased 15-20% in many of the chain restaurants within a couple of weeks. I wouldn't have caught it if we hadn't had take out menus before and after to compare.
Our non smoking friends were furious. They boycotted them on principal. And continue to. We now just gather in each others homes.
Outback Steakhouse had probably the largest increase.
Seems odd, to jack prices like that, when all these people claim how much better business is after the bans.
The smaller places that only sell limited food to be able to cater to smokers, had no increases at all.
I think if more of the public really understood what the "clean air" that they didn't care about anyway is costing them, attitudes may change.
Shelion and Sunshine Sister, you are both correct, this is a crock of chit.
As a transplant to Virginia from Delaware, after that state passed a smoker ban, I can speak from first hand experience as to the financial hit taken by small businesses because of the ban. The state itself took a major hit financially because the ban extended to the racetracks, the casinos there are part of the state lottery system.
There are more than enough restaurants/bars in th Commonwealth that are already smoke-free, there is absolutely no reason to mandate this on all businesses.
The example given earlier by poster VA_Gentleman is the perfect example. He cited an establishment in Richmonmd that is smoke-free and does a booming business. I think that is wonderful and for the life of me can not understand why that owner's market share should be stripped away from him because of the whines of a few highly funded paid professional whiners.
Non-smokers already have many options for smoke-free dining, drinking and employment, should not smokers, particularly the owners of businesses who smoke have the same options?
VA freepers, please contact your dlegate and others and ask them to vote NO on SB648.
For your information, smokers WERE screwed by Big Tobacco in 1998 when they fell to their bony knees in front of the Attorney Generals. Do you think WE have any respect for Big T? Hell no!
Don't forget, my FRiend, the chain restaurants are actively pushing for these bans. They are seeking to rid them selves of the mom & pop local competition.
Sorry about this thread, Gabz. But I wanted to get it posted for you. Terrible terrible news. I pray for all the private business owners in that state. They have NO clue what they are up against here.
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