Governor Tim Kaine says he’s open to talking about a government ban on smoking in bars and restaurants.
February 2, 2007
The vote today was 74-to-22.
The bill now goes to the Senate, where legislation to ban smoking in restaurants and virtually all other indoor public places awaits a final vote early next week.
The House bill — sponsored by Majority Leader Morgan Griffith of Salem — would eliminate the legal requirement that restaurants provide no-smoking sections.
Griffith says he believes most restaurant owners will decide on their own that they would rather go smoke-free.
He says no-smoking areas in most restaurants are largely ineffective.
House smoking bill alive
It would make restaurants post sign if cigarettes are OK, would end nonsmoking-section law
It would make restaurants post sign if cigarettes are OK, would end nonsmoking-section law
BY JOHN REID BLACKWELL, TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
January 31, 2007
January 31, 2007
Restaurants that allow smoking would be required to post signs saying so, under a proposal a House of Delegates committee advanced yesterday.
The bill also would eliminate a state law requiring restaurants with more than 50 seats to provide nonsmoking sections.
The legislation, sponsored by Del. H. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, is less sweeping than a pending Senate bill that would ban indoor smoking in most public places in Virginia.
The General Laws Committee endorsed Griffith’s bill on a voice vote, sending it to the House floor. Griffith told the committee he believes the legislation would prompt most restaurants to go smoke-free, rather than posting “smoking permitted” signs at public entrances.
“It would give them an extra incentive. A lot of restaurants are on the edge now anyway,” Griffith said. “My constituents would like to have more places to go to eat where there is no smoking. It’s a modest bill some would say too modest. But I believe it would address a lot of the concerns of my constituents.”
The committee rejected an attempt by Del. David L. Bulova, D-Fairfax, to amend the bill so that restaurants would still have to provide nonsmoking sections.
Tom Lisk, a lobbyist for the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association, spoke against the bill. He said customer demand is already prompting many business to prohibit smoking, and the bill should not single out restaurants.
A coalition of public-health groups that favors a ban on smoking in most public, indoor places also opposes Griffith’s bill.
‘This bill provides no protection to workers, which is what our mission is,” said Terry Hargrove, speaking for the group Virginians for a Healthy Future.
Several bills that would impose a statewide indoor smoking ban failed last week in a House subcommittee. Another bill, sponsored by Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, was endorsed by the Senate Education and Health Committee and is awaiting action by the full Senate.
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House Approves Anti-Smoking Compromise; Broader Bill Up for a Vote in the Senate
By Richmond Notebook
January 31, 2007
January 31, 2007
A House of Delegates committee approved a measure yesterday that would require restaurants that allow smoking to post a sign near the entrance.
Although it is one of the least restrictive of several anti-smoking bills making their way through the General Assembly, the bill is also the only one to emerge so far from the House Committee on General Laws.
House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem), the bill’s sponsor, said it is a compromise intended to encourage, instead of require, restaurants to go smoke-free.
In the Senate, a broader bill will come up for a vote today that would ban smoking in virtually all public spaces and workplaces. A similar bill was defeated in a House subcommittee last week.
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January 25, 2007
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January 25, 2007
Richmond, Virginia.? The ABC-Gaming subcommittee in the House of Delegates to hold hearing and vote on four bills which totally banned smoking with the exception of cars and private homes.? There were two compromised bills: HB 2422? which would bans smoking unless the proprietor of the establishment put a smoking permitted sign in clear view of all their entrances.? HB 2067 would have made any new restaurants built after 2008 to have two separate areas; one for smoking, one for nonsmoking.
The opposition was represented by the American Heart Association.? She spoke for everyone.? They, of course, were behind all legislation that banned smoking.? Her reasoning was the recent SG’s report.
The subcommittee also heard testimony from Mr. Falver, Hospitality Association of Virginia Beach.? He wanted a smoking ban.? Rep. Cosgrove wanted to know why, after substantial pressure Mr. Falver finally admitted if he closed his business to smokers he would loose business and that is why he wanted the State to do it for him.? Another woman, from the same association objected to the bill and stated that there were plenty of smoking and nonsmoking restaurants in Virginia Beach and a law was not required.
The Chair asked if there were any other people who supported a smoking ban to stand up.? I estimated that approximately 10 people stood up.
Then the Chair asked if there were any objections to the smoking ban?? The first person to speak was Glenn Loope, lobbyist for the Cigar Association spoke and based his objections on property rights and that people had many choice where to dine and so did the people who worked in the establishments.?? The next person was Gary Persh, the President of the Cigar Association.? His argument was similar to Mr. Loope.?? At the point the subcommittee really didn’t want to hear from anyone one else but I asked to be heard, he agreed but said keep it short.? I had only a couple of minutes, I told him my name, company name and said I objected because the science was fraudulent, what is going on in other states (i.e. bans in cars and condo’s), OSHA never issued regulations on ETS because they were minute and were less than cooking, fireplaces and cleaning products which all were within the indoor air safe levels of contaminates.?
Next person up was my husband, Bill.? What he said was business was booming in Virginia after the smoking ban in DC.? He also said that people should have the right to chose where they wish to eat and that they now have choice, with a smoking ban they wouldn’t.
The Chairman asked for those who were against the smoking ban to stand up pass across the podium.? I couldn’t hear their names.? About 10 people walked by.
They voted 4-0 against the bill but did vote 4-0 to pass the HB 2422.? Bill HS 2067 was withdrawn.
Jan 25, 2007
LARRY O’DELL
LARRY O’DELL
RICHMOND, Va. – Smokers in the nation’s fourth-leading tobacco-growing state would be banned from lighting up in restaurants and most other indoor public places if a bill endorsed Thursday by a Virginia Senate committee becomes law.
The Education and Health Committee voted 9-5 to send Sen. Brandon Bell’s bill to the Senate floor, where similar legislation narrowly passed last year only to die later in a House of Delegates subcommittee.
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Bell, R-Roanoke, said the measure is needed to protect Virginians from the health hazards of secondhand smoke, which has been proven to cause cancer and other diseases.
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Bell, R-Roanoke, said the measure is needed to protect Virginians from the health hazards of secondhand smoke, which has been proven to cause cancer and other diseases.
“It is a powerful carcinogen,” said Dr. Antonio Longo, an Alexandria pulmonary specialist who was the only witness Bell brought before a committee that heard extensive testimony on the issue last year.
Cigarette maker Philip Morris USA is based in Richmond.
According to the anti-smoking group American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, 19 states ban smoking in restaurants and 15 of those prohibit lighting up in all workplaces. Bell said four states approved bans just last year.
“There is a great deal of momentum across the country for this measure,” he said.
But Christopher M. Savvides, owner of the Black Angus Restaurant in Virginia Beach, said he should be allowed to determine his own smoking policy.
“It’s not about smoking, it’s about my right as business to do what I need to do to attract customers,” Savvides said.
He said many restaurants have gone smoke-free voluntarily while others continue to accommodate smokers, providing plenty of options for Virginians no matter what their smoking preference.
Julia Hammond, a lobbyist for the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association, emphasized the same point.
“The current system is working,” she said. “There are several different types of smoking environments for customers.”
Bell said many restaurant owners have told him they would like to prohibit smoking but are reluctant to do so without a statewide ban because they fear being put at a competitive disadvantage.
He also said the legislation would protect workers as well as customers. He said one-fifth of all restaurant workers are teenagers who often have little or no choice about where they work or whether they are assigned to smoking or nonsmoking sections.
Bell’s bill would prohibit smoking in virtually all buildings or enclosed areas frequented by the public. Several House members have submitted similar legislation.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has signaled support for a restaurant smoking ban but reluctance to extend the prohibition to all private workplaces. However, Bell has said he is encouraged by Kaine’s decision in October to ban smoking in most state offices and state-owned vehicles.
Virginia anti-smoking ban opens up debate
September 13th, 2006
Sarah Larkins
Bell said he plans to introduce his anti-smoking bill again January when the Senate reconvenes.
September 13th, 2006
Sarah Larkins
Bell said he plans to introduce his anti-smoking bill again January when the Senate reconvenes.
Smoking Ban, Anyone?
September 6, 2006
Scott J. Krischke
Scott J. Krischke
Anti-smoking advocates have renewed calls for a state-wide ban on smoking in all public establishments after Gov. Timothy Kaine (D) stated last week that he is “actively considering” an order to ban smoking in state-owned facilities.
“We feel that [Kaine’s statement] sets a good example for the rest of the state, however we regret that the governor has not gone forward to call for a complete ban on smoking,” said Terry Hargrove, a spokesperson for the American Lung Association of Virginia.
Kaine stated that he is considering the possibility of evoking an executive order to ban smoking in enclosed buildings on state property. Individual building smoking policy is presently set by facility managers. The state employs approximately 100,000 people.
“Do you really need more evidence that smoking causes rising health-care costs?” said Kaine spokesperson Kevin Hall. “If we can promote a healthy environment and healthy lifestyles among our employees … it would lower our healthcare costs.”
Smoking has been prohibited on all enclosed property owned, leased or used for events of the Fairfax County government since 1989.
Even though Kaine might call for the ban on smoking in state facilities, he has refused to support legislation for a state-imposed restriction on smoking in privately owned businesses such as restaurants and bars, Hall added.
This doesn’t mean that Kaine is discouraging businesses from imposing their own smoking bans, but he “doesn’t think that it’s the role of the state government to tell private business what they can and cannot do within their businesses,” Hall said.
WHILE HARGROVE SUPPORTS any decision to ban smoking across the board at state facilities, the ultimate goal for the American Lung Association of Virginia is a government-imposed state-wide smoking ban, she said.
Among the 14 states that have already passed non-smoking laws include California, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Delaware.
“We approach this issue from a worker’s rights point of view,” Hargrove said. “It is the right of every worker to have healthy working conditions and we feel that a smoking ban helps to achieve that goal.”
Hargrove added that she believed a state-wide ban on smoking in places like restaurants and bars would not adversely affect business, a claim often made by opponents of a possible ban.
She pointed to an increase in business recorded at restaurants in New York following the imposition of non-smoking rules as evidence of this.
ANY BILL DECLARING Virginia a non-smoking state would take some time and effort to become law, said State Del. Mark Sickles (D-43), a member of the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions.
Last year, the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act, which would have prohibited smoking in most buildings open to the public passed the state Senate but died in the House of Delegates.
A poll released last year by a coalition of public health groups said that 59 percent of Virginians would support a statewide ban on smoking.
A poll released last year by a coalition of public health groups said that 59 percent of Virginians would support a statewide ban on smoking.
Sickles said that while he usually doesn’t prefer restrictive government policies, he stands with these individuals.
“I think it’s time for people who don’t smoke to be free of the smoking of other people,” he said. “When I go to California, it’s a relief to come out of a restaurant and not have the smell of smoke on you. You don’t get that in Richmond.”
But Sickles added that the possibility of a ban on smoking in the near future is slim, and that more public demand for the law would need to manifest itself before anything is done.
A statewide smoking ban “is the future, this is going to happen sometime, but I just don’t think it’s going to happen this winter,” he said. “I think the public needs to continue to be vocal about this.”
“That’s the only way this is going to pass.”
Governor Kaine wants to discuss smoking ban in restaurants
September 4, 2006
The push to ban smoking in restaurants could soon have the weight of the governor’s office behind it.
Governor Tim Kaine says he’s open to talking about a government ban on smoking in bars and restaurants.
It’s an idea Roanoke Senator Brandon Bell introduced last year, legislation that was stomped out by the House of Delegates.
When he took office, Kaine says he was surprised to learn there is not a uniform smoking policy for state buildings.
As the employer of executive branch workers, Kaine says it’s an issue he takes seriously.
Read: VA State Ban Failed
