RI: House approves smoking ban (Even for public servants)

WoonsocketCall.com ^ | 6-11-04 | Jim Baron

[SheLion]

PROVIDENCE -- A bill to ban smoking in restaurants, bars and virtually all public places, with a few notable exceptions, won unanimous approval in the House of Representatives Thursday.

But unanimity was not achieved until several provisions were plucked out so opponents -- mostly Republicans -- could register specific objections while supporting the bill as a whole.

While the bill states that "Smoking shall be prohibited in all enclosed public places within the state of Rhode Island"after March 1, 2005, it allows some exceptions.

Perhaps the most controversial exemption is the state’s two video lottery terminal (VLT) parlors at Lincoln Park and Newport Grand.

The House originally wanted to eliminate the exemption after Oct. 1, 2006, but Senate negotiators insisted that the exemption be permanent for fear the state would lose money if smokers went elsewhere to play video slots.

Exemptions for small clubs (with Class D liquor licenses, defined membership rolls and fewer than 10 employees) and neighborhood bars (Class C liquor licenses, no food, fewer than 10 employees) were also made, but those exemptions will expire on Oct. 1, 2006.

Nearly 45 minutes of debate and two attempts to make floor amendments on the bill were needed to ensure that the fly-fishing club to which North Smithfield Rep. Robert Lowe belongs would remain exempt from the smoking ban.

Legislators finally solved the problem by changing the requirement that a club with a Class D liquor license would be exempt only if it is a "non-profit charitable corporation" to a "non-profit or charitable corporation." Lowe’s club is non-profit but not a charitable organization.

Cities and towns are forbidden -- "pre-empted" in the argot of the lawmakers -- from passing stronger anti-smoking measures until Oct. 1, 2006.

A number of communities have what are called "cancer clauses" in their labor contracts with firefighters and, less frequently, police officers, that say anytime one of the workers is diagnosed with cancer, it is presumed to be a work-related injury entitling the worker to disability. Because of that, some of the municipalities negotiated a provision in contracts that prohibits smoking by those employees even when they are off-duty.

The smoking bill passed by the House Thursday would forbid employers from imposing such a requirement on off-duty employees.

Raising the question of overriding those "cancer clause" contract provisions, Rep. William Enos asked, "Are we going to repair this or pass it as it is?"

Fox answered, "Pass it as it is."

Noting that one object of banning smoking is to help prevent cancer caused by second-hand smoke, Republican Rep. Nicholas Gorham said, "The problem with this bill is that it is suffering from a cancer itself; the cancer of special interests."

Majority Leader Gordon Fox, who sponsored the House version of the bill, called it "a good, progressive piece of legislation." He acknowledged that it was the product of compromise and that people would oppose some of its provisions, but he said it protects "99 percent of the people of Rhode Island" from second-hand smoke at work or indoor public places.

The bill voted on Thursday was the product of long negotiations among the leaders in the House and Senate and the sponsors of the slightly different bills that arose in each chamber so it is not likely to change as continues down the often-winding path of legislative procedure. A Senate version of the smoking ban, sent over to the House several weeks ago, will now be amended to conform with what was passed Thursday and both versions will go back to the Senate. If, as expected, the Senate in turn approves both, they will then go to Gov. Donald L. Carcieri for his signature or veto.

While Carcieri has been generally supportive of smoking bans in past public statements, he could not be reached for comment Thursday on the specific legislation passed by the House.

[SheLion]

Perhaps then you should take a look at what goes on, on the other side of the law sometime. You might find it quite surprising.

Sorry, Kerberos. I'm just not interested in illegal drugs.

[Pondman88]

I think about going back to MA..it is a beautiful place, Boston, the ocean, the accent...but it is really the most f-ed up place politically. House prices are a killer too.....

[Bogey]

But the facts are clear, between 400k and 500k die each year from smoking related diseases.

---

"The risk of getting lung cancer was most heavily influenced by age,
duration of smoking and how much a person smoked," says Dr. Peter Bach,
lead author of the study and an epidemiologist and pulmonary physician
at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
About one-third of cancers in the United States are directly related to
cigarette smoke, including lung, throat, sinus, esophagus, pancreas,
kidney and cervical cancers, he says.

---

So, 2/3's of the people getting cancer never smoked. Wonder what their cancer is "directly related" to?
Heart disease numbers are the same.
As a smoker, people quoting these numbers amuse me. They continue to allow these "health organizations" to flush the bulk of their billions into conforming me into a non smoker. While the never smokers continue to make up the majority of these diseases.. With no explanation.

I wonder when the never smokers start figuring this out.
I guess when they are dying at a young age of these diseases, and realize that the dollars weren't used for
cures.
They were used instead to keep me from smoking in a restaurant.

[DannyTN]

"This country is not free. Stop paying your real estate tax and see what happens?

Real Estate taxes have been around since the Colonial America. You were required to pay real estate taxes since the beginning.

Are you suggesting something has changed?

[appalachian_dweller]

>> Real Estate taxes have been around since the Colonial America <<

I was unaware of this. Can you please provide proof, links, etc?

[Eurotwit]

I think there was a similar ban on public employees in a Norwegian district. Then, the EU stepped in and overturned the ban stating that the ban was a breach of human rights.

You know you are in trouble when the EU is the one to protect your freedom :-)

[DannyTN]

Here's one, go down to the section labeled, "Colonial times". Note that Property taxes were then as now a state tax not a federal tax.

Colonial Times

[appalachian_dweller]

Wow. Either I wasn't paying attention in history class (I sat next to a really cute cheerleader), or they didn't present this to the class.

Anyway, thanks Danny for the link. I've learned something today! I love Free Republic. I've bookmarked the site.

Seems we've always had taxes, always will.

[SheLion]

You know you are in trouble when the EU is the one to protect your freedom :-)

!

[DannyTN]

Cute Cheerleaders will do that to you.

But yes, no government is free. The legitimate issues are how much should government do and how much should it cost.

The U.S. is not bad as far as per capita taxes. There are places that have much lower taxes, but I wouldn't live there.

Comparative Taxes

[nutmeg]

ping! (a few days late)

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Rhode Island ping list.