[SheLion]

[SheLion]

Puff!

[Just another Joe]

At least some people in NJ are showing a little common sense and some backbone.
I've got to say that the comment about the "level playing field" makes my blood boil.

[ladyjane]

Isn't NJ the cancer capital of the country? Of course they should be allowed to smoke. Now I will jump into my flame proof and smoke proof suit!

[Wright is right!]

Isn't tomorrow the day that the entire state of Florida goes smokefree in bars and restaurants? Has there been any softening of that situation?

Michael

[jimt]

Great post bump !

[Conspiracy Guy]

At last. Someone says, keep your fat azz out of my private business to the litte creepy combover crew.

[Gabz]

The New Jersey Restaurant Association led the fight against the bill yesterday, and the group brought to the hearing a Manhattan restaurateur struggling with the ban New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed into law this year.

At least they have a restaurant association that did sell them out like what happened in Delaware.

Restaurant Association officials said they would support a ban only if it is a "level playing field" covering the entire state and all establishments, including casinos, small bars and social clubs.

I guess I spoke too soon.

I'm still waiting for one of these numskulls to explain this too me.

When the casinos and tavern owners sought to amend the ban in Delaware to permit smoking the Restaurant Association went nuclear. And among the restaurants protesting the loudest are the ones that are actually no more than glorified bars with restaurants licenses so they can remain open on Sunday for the lucrative sports watching crowd.

They are the same ones screaming against letting the taverns and taprooms open on sunday also.

I hate hypocrites.

[Coleus]

`

[Alberta's Child]

But that was before the casinos, restaurant operators, bar owners, cigarette makers and their lobbyists showed up in force.

The real turning point in this debate wasn't so much the lobbying efforts of these interests, but a report that was published a few weeks ago showing that bar and restaurant patronage along the Hudson County waterfront across the river from Manhattan was up 40% since New York imposed its idiotic smoking ban.

Even New Jersey politicians are smart enough to realize that you shouldn't chase away a cash cow like that.

[gtech]

As a non-smoker I am tired of being called stupid by these smoking-nazi nanny-government controllers. I am old enough and intelligent enough to avoid smoke if I choose if I am that concerened about my health. I don't need the government to infringe on the rights of people who decide to invest their time and money into an establishment to decide for themselves what otherwise perfectly legal actvity they allow in a phony attempt to protect me. If I am that worried, I won't play in traffic or go to smoking restaurants. If I'm not that worried, repect my damn rights to make the decision on my own, and the ownwers rights to do the same!

[Great Dane]

Rah, Rah, Rah........ Another tiny victory for sanity.

[cake_crumb]

Great news! Chalk one up for property rights!

Hope Maine and New York can do this too!

[CSM]

"let casinos set aside smoking areas accounting for 20 percent of their premises, and allow restaurants to allow smoking in 20 percent of their seats."

Why would they only allow 20 percent when they know the per capita smoking rate is 30 percent? This doesn't seam like a compromise to me. Would it allow for growth if the demand exists?

[miss marmelstein]

Praise the Lord and pass the butts!

[Recovering_Democrat]

BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!

MajorPING!
for FREEDOM!

[SouthParkRepublican]

”Gov. James E. McGreevey would prefer to let each town decide whether to ban smoking”.

What a jackass. How about preferring to let business owners decide what is in their best interests. I am a smoker, a NJ resident, and a social drinker; these three things combine to limit my life expectancy to about 45 years. If NJ wants, I can spend the my remaining days patronizing some of the restaurants ¾ of a mile away in PA.

[qam1]

Notice how according to this article the people fighting the ban are "Lobbyist" while the people who are promoting the ban are "Groups"

Who says the press ain't Liberal?