L.A. County employees charged monthly smoking fee How Much More Abuse Will Smokers Take

SBSUN.com ^ | 29 September 2002 | MICHELLE RESTER

[SheLion]

Smokers have long complained that their rights are being taken away they can't puff in bars, restaurants or in the workplace and are subject to taxes.

And if they work for Los Angeles County, they're also docked $10 a month.

"This bad habit has cost me $90 so far this year,' said Bobi Johnson, Supervisor Gloria Molina's health deputy, and a smoker. "That doesn't count what I've spent buying these cigarettes.'

Officials from area cities, the California State Association of Counties, the League of California Cities and the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California say they know of no other government agencies that have such a policy.

"I think it's very unusual,' said League of California Cities spokeswoman Raechelle Cline. "I haven't been able to find any cities doing that, but that doesn't necessarily mean they aren't but that they haven't told us about it.'

About 850 non-union county employees annually mark the "yes' box to the question: Have you used any tobacco products within the last 12 months?

Those who do lose $120 a year in monthly payments.

The county collects about $100,000 a year from smokers who, on the honor system, admit to their nicotine habit.

"It's called a smoker's fee,' said Bill Lynes, the county's head of compensation. "It goes into a fund that helps defray the cost of health insurance for the larger group.'

Lynes says the smoker's fee has been around since January, 1993, after the county Board of Supervisors approved it based on a recommendation from the chief administrative officer. The money is added to a pool of money that is allocated to all employees to spend for health insurance. The amount varies, based on salaries and years with the county.

Employees who work in the county's Hahn Hall of Administration say patios and balconies on various floors are filled with the pushed-out smokers on their breaks some who do and some who don't cough up the smoker's fee each month.

In any event, almost no one has complained, county officials say.

"We really don't hear complaints about this, which is kind of interesting,' Lynes said.

[SheLion]

Some would probably say "big Pharm" is the big winner

The war on the smokers is all about Big Bucks. The Tobacco Settlement is being paid 100% by the smokers who pay taxes on cigarettes. Not the government and not Big Tobacco. The smokers pay this.

The Tobacco Settlement being paid into the states was supposed to pay for any sick uninsured smoker (welfare) should there be any, and for education about smoking. However, as I am sure you have heard, the money is so huge, that the state governments jumped on it to “balance the budgets!” The weight of the state is being carried on the backs of 1 out of 4 people who choose to smoke a legal commodity.

Then, you have the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, working with the American Medical Association. They have a HUGE war on smokers. Currently, 44 states are in the pocket of the RWJ Foundation. The higher the taxes, the more control, bans and restrictions put upon the smoker, the bigger the grant money the state will receive.

Here is a few cartoons that explain it perfectly:

[lewislynn]

I am so tired of the verbal abuse at the hospitals here. If they know you smoke, they sigh and roll their eyes

The don't ask that when you're just visiting. Sounds like you aren't as healthy as you'd like us to believe....

they sigh and roll their eyes

Are we overly sensitive? Sighs and rolling eyes is "verbal abuse" now?

[SheLion]

Some would probably say "big Pharm" is the big winner.

Oh yes! Big Pharm WANTS to be the big winner! They WANT people to quit smoking so they can sell them their high priced "quit smoking aides."

(The reason the Government is working to get us all to quit smoking, is so Big Pharm can get our money for quit smoking aides!)

[SheLion]

The don't ask that when you're just visiting. Sounds like you aren't as healthy as you'd like us to believe....

Not that I have to explain anything to YOU, but my husband is going for knee surgery. We have to make trips to the hospital for pre-surgery testing. Anything wrong with that?

[Great Dane]

"It's called a smoker's fee,' said Bill Lynes, the county's head of compensation. "It goes into a fund that helps defray the cost of health insurance for the larger group.'

There is that bulls... again, where and when is it going to stop.

[Great Dane]

An alternative would be to deprive smokers of all health insurance coverage.:~)

Yeah, then all the EXTRA money we pay, can go to everybody else, which it already does. :-}

[Great Dane]

Sighs and rolling eyes is "verbal abuse" now?

If the shoe fits.

[cmak9]

"We really don't hear complaints about this, which is kind of interesting,' Lynes said."

Probably because they're a bunch of stupid sheep!

[SheLion]

There is that bulls... again, where and when is it going to stop.

Isn't this outrageous??!! Why don't they have a FAT FEE. Seems about right to ME!

[SheLion]

Probably because they're a bunch of stupid sheep!

Or......they never thought that some news person would have this published for all the world to see. LOL!

Now we ALL know what sheep they are. /sarcasm off

[Station 51]

It looks like the ACLU is on the side of the smokers on this issue. You may want o give them a call or send a donation asking them to help.

[A CA Guy]

Democrats are considering a $100 a pack tax in CA to erase the debt I hear!

[SheLion]

Democrats are considering a $100 a pack tax in CA to erase the debt I hear!

That's outrageous! We all know the DemocRATS are stupid, but this is even above THEIR doings!

They are really killing off the goose that lays the golden eggs. People aren't going to stop smoking, but people WILL go elsewhere to buy cigarettes from places that are within reason! SHOP CHEAP IT'S YOUR CIVIC DUTY.

More smokers are learning every day that they do NOT have to pay into the state coffers in order to enjoy their relaxation. With the Internet, knowledge is power, and I really wish all the smokers in the U.S. would come online and find the better alternative.

Surely, the DemocRATS realize that no one would buy cigarettes paying that outrageous tax. Why don't they up the tax on BOOZE? Alcohol is killing people off like flies, I hear.

and

Smokers United

[metesky]

She fell for it.

[SheLion]

She fell for it.

I didn't fall for anything. But even "I" know the DemocRATS aren't THAT dumb. heh!

You just never know who is coming in here, and they might believe what they post, so I am here to dubunk. How's that?

[metesky]

Take that tone with me again, young lady, and I'll put you over my knee and...

Never mind.
;O)

[lsee]

Anything wrong with that?

I sure do like your screen name! Hope hubby's surgery goes/went okay.

[Gabz]

Take that tone with me again, young lady, and I'll put you over my knee and...

NAAAAAAHHH - she's probably enjoy it too much!!!!! (j/k she)

[SheLion]

Heh! Your not big enough.......

:)

[SheLion]

You know what? I have been SheLion in here since 1994. I was trying to get a name, and you know how they are all taken. Well, I was born in August, which is Leo. But Leo is a male lion. I thought: Well, I am surely not a male. So, the idea popped into my head "SheLion!" So, that is how I got my name.

I have to sweep the bones out of my cave every morning. LOL!

Hubby goes on the 10th of this month for knee surgery. OUCH! I, too, hope it goes well. Can't be much worse then it is now. Thank you so much!!!