[Gabz]

And another one down, another one gone, and another one bites the dust!!!!!!!!!!

[ServesURight]

BUMP

[EggsAckley]

BUMP!

[Gabz]

He said four restaurants have closed and some smaller taverns have lost 30 percent to 50 percent of their business since a Montgomery County ban took effect in October.

What happened in Montgomery County is common anywhere and everywhere a smoking ban takes effect. The proponents of these bans want to make it appear otherwise and so play fast and loose with number in an effort to make it appear that hospitality industry business increases with these bans........they don't.

I know the bar and restaurant owners on Maryland's Eastern shore were not happy with this proposal - they have seen such an increase in business since the Delaware ban went into effect - they don't want to lose their new customers.

[Madame Dufarge]

"If they had passed it this year, there would be another 1,000 lives they would save," she said.

Show me the studies that "prove" this, their funding sources and the death certificates of the thousands who have "second-hand smoke" listed as their cause of death.

[lockjaw02]

The deciding vote was cast by Sen. Thomas V. Middleton, D-Charles, chairman of the Finance Committee, who said he had been lobbied heavily on the bill and had "gotten lots and lots of e-mails."

"The advocates for this legislation made a very good case," Middleton said, even as he voted to kill the bill. The advocates for this legislation lie through their teeth using corrupt junk science. All this temporary reprieve means is that we have to do a better job at exposing the junk.

[Just another Joe]

and from waiters and waitresses who told the committee that working in smoke-filled restaurants and bars threatens their health.

They're either lying about this or the waiters and waitresses have drunk the kool-aid.

[CSM]

"He said he will work with anti-smoking groups to encourage restaurants to voluntarily prohibit smoking, and promote those who do go smoke free."

There is so much idiocy in this article that I am amazed. It was a hard choice to pick this one comment. While I applaud this guys vote, he did it for all the wrong reasons. He didn't do it out of respect for private property and liberty, he did it because he was lobbied and received e-mails. At least his constituents understand freedom. In addition, he follows up with government marketing advantages handed to one type of business but not the other. He is an idiot that governs with a finger in the air!