Maine: Governor signs smoking, cell record, profiteering bills

United Pro Smoker's Newsletter ^ | April 14, 2006

[SheLion]

AUGUSTA, Maine --Private clubs will have new procedures to follow when they vote on whether to allow smoking.

Gov. John Baldacci on Thursday signed into law a bill that will allow club smoking policy to be decided by a majority of club members who return ballots, rather than a majority of all of a club's members.

The new law will correct what critics saw as a flaw in the current procedure, in which smoking policy is decided by a majority of each club's members. Critics said that poses problems because many club members are inactive or can't be located when voted are held.

The Legislature killed a separate bill that would have banned smoking in private clubs that have paid employees

[SheLion]

"club smoking policy to be decided by a majority of club members who return ballots, rather than a majority of all of a club's members."

Huh???

If anyone understands this, please fill me in!

[SheLion]

   Gov John Baldacci

[SheLion]

To all my FReeper friends:

[metesky]

If anyone understands this, please fill me in!

Say a club, the Elks for instance, has 1,000 members. The way the law was originally written, if they sent out 1,000 ballots and only 500 were returned and the split was 400 for smoking and 100 against, that would not stand as the 500 unreturned ballots would have all been counted as against.

The new law fixes it so that only the returned ballots are counted and so in our example the pro-smokers would win.

[Atomic Vomit]

"Gov. John Baldacci on Thursday signed into law a bill that will allow club smoking policy to be decided by a majority of club members who return ballots, rather than a majority of all of a club's members."

Surely, their time in Augusta could have been better spent.

Well, you know what they say: "Small men, small issues..."

AV

Aroostook Beauty.com

[Atomic Vomit]

"Surely, their time in Augusta could have been better spent."

On second thought, their time would be much better spent if they spent less of it in Augusta.

These intrusive politicians need to spend less time on the "job". Please.

AV

Aroostook Beauty.com

[SheLion]

The new law fixes it so that only the returned ballots are counted and so in our example the pro-smokers would win.

Thank you metesky.  I couldn't wrap my mind around what he was trying to say.  I'm surprised that he didn't just come out and BAN private club smoking.  He is such an anti!

[SheLion]

Surely, their time in Augusta could have been better spent.

Well, you know what they say: "Small men, small issues..."

Well, to the Vets in Maine, this is a hot topic.  And we have been holding our breath until we saw the outcome.

[Atomic Vomit]

"And we have been holding our breath until we saw the outcome."

Good pun if you meant it, Shelion!

AV

[SheLion]

Well, you know what they say: "Small men, small issues..."

And this ISN'T a small issue!   If Vets in Maine are small, then I guess you can call them small!

[SheLion]

Good pun if you meant it, Shelion!

Excuse me??

[sergeantdave]

Anyone who believes a business is public property is a Marxist.

[Atomic Vomit]

Yes, this issue is not small. It is microscopic.

That the Maine legislature and governor would occupy themselves in debate and lawmaking over the details of voting in any private organization is evidence that they have too much time and too little to do.

And who was talking about the Vets? It's not all about you, SheLion.

I've reconsidered about the smallness of such an issue: It's not microscopic, SheLion, it's sub-atomic (without the vomit).

AV

[SheLion]

And who was talking about the Vets? It's not all about you, SheLion.

Not about ME?????  I was married to a Viet Nam Vet for 34 years!  Not about ME?  heh!

Ralph retired up here at Loring Air Force Base in 91 after 26 years of service,  (4 years with the Army and two Purple Hearts and the Meritorious Service Medal among many others) and went to work at DFAS until the base closed!

I am quite eligible to go to the VFW and the American Legion!!  I will have my military ID until the day I die!!!!!

You will NEVER know my friend!

[230FMJ]

Hence the name "John Bald-Marxist"

[M-cubed]

If anyone understands this, please fill me in! <<

Ok heres the scoop...our local Vets club (which has always allowed smoking...but was forced by the STATE to have a vote)recently voted via mailed ballot...82 to continue to allow smoking...43 against...BUT!!!!!..the 76 members that did not return ballots were counted as AGAINST....Hence! NO SMOKING!...I wish the state had used that logic for the gov Race...everyone that didn't vote...voted against Baldacci!!

[pleikumud]

How about Federal legislation saying that smokers will not be covered by any Federal medical insurance, such as Medicare, Medicaid, if they get a disease associated with tobacco use.
(I can hear the bricks hitting my windows already.)

[Gabz]

How about Federal legislation saying that smokers will not be covered by any Federal medical insurance, such as Medicare, Medicaid, if they get a disease associated with tobacco use.

Fine as long as we are reimbursed for every penny we've paid into the system..........and are no longer required to pay into the system.

[383rr]

That guy sure looks like a stooge to me.

[gidget7]

It has me stumped as well. I was hoping you could enlighten us!