steverino
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NC Legislative UpdateThe NC legislature will again consider a bill outlawing smoking in any workplace, restaurant or public place. This bill has come up before and was defeated by a narrow margin. I would urge any NC members to contact your state representative and senator asap and express your opinion (even if you're for it - you've got that right).
I am against this bill as much for the infringement on personal property rights as for the limitation on smoking.
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steverino
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Just an update - both the house and senate versions of this bill are still in committee, they have not been voted on by the full bodies. I expect this will come up for a vote soon, however.
More later.
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drbridges
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How odd will that be for a state that practically owes its existence to tobacco sales and consumption to make smoking illegal in public/private places?
I've never understood why smoking isn't up to the property owner. If we were still operating under the Constitution of the US of A, it would be.
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Gig
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| drbridges wrote: | How odd will that be for a state that practically owes its existence to tobacco sales and consumption to make smoking illegal in public/private places?
I've never understood why smoking isn't up to the property owner. If we were still operating under the Constitution of the US of A, it would be. |
That is the way of the world at the moment. There is a 74 page bill currently being processed in Australia for the stopping of smoking Australia wide. 20 % increase in tobacco and its not cheap at the moment (50g pouch the cheapest is now 27.00 AUD) AND ITS CRAP. They also wan to ban buying tobacco via the internet.
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ted
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Steve....My new Representative(beat Jim Harrell) is Sarah Stevens. After a bit of work, I got her office. Think there is one vote against the bill....Thanks for keeping me up to date....ted
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steverino
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There is no change in status on the NCGA web site, but the news outlets are reporting this morning that the bill was reported favorably from the Judiciary Committee yesterday on a voice vote. The house is expected to take up the bill early next week.
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steverino
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Last night, the house's smoking ban bill passed on the second reading, but not without several amendments.
Amendment 1 specifically allows smoking in cigar bars as long as no one under 18 is admitted.
Amendment 2 allows smoking in public places or places of employment where no one under 18 is allowed/served.
Amendment 3 allows smoking in privately-owned work places as long as all parties concur and no one under 18 is allowed.
Amendment 4 adds tobacco leaf growers' facilities to the list of work places where smoking is permitted.
The senate version of this bill still appears to be in committee.
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ted
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Thanks Steve. I had not seen the amendments. Watered it down a bit.
Our tobacco taxes went up this morning, and the NC Governer Perdue is recommending an additional $1.00/pack tax in her new budget. Haven't seen what she is proposing for other forms of tobacco.
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drbridges
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Rush Limbaugh suggested in yesterday's show if someone questions your motive for smoking, tell them you are doing it for the children. Our tobacco taxes fund numerous gov't programs, both state and federal.
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steverino
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Exactly, DRB. I just wrote a letter to the editor of our paper saying basically the same thing - we need to encourage smoking so our children will have insurance and our state budget can be balanced.
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steverino
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| ted wrote: | Thanks Steve. I had not seen the amendments. Watered it down a bit.
Our tobacco taxes went up this morning, and the NC Governer Perdue is recommending an additional $1.00/pack tax in her new budget. Haven't seen what she is proposing for other forms of tobacco. |
Ted, I checked H640 and the tax on cigarettes is 5.5 cents per individual cigarette and the tax on other tobacco products is to be 31 percent of the cost price. If passed, this is to take effect on July 1.
I have noticed something interesting, however - at the grocery store last night, there were new, prominent price tags on the shelves where the cigarette cartons are displayed - and they were still about the same price as before the new federal tax. Maybe the manufacturers are lowering prices to help with the initial shock and will raise them later. Anyone else seen this at your local stores?
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steverino
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The bill has now passed its third reading with one further amendment. Private clubs were added to the list of facilities where smoking will be permitted.
It will be a little while before the next update, as the bill will now go to the Senate for their consideration.
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drbridges
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We are witnessing a public smoking mini-debate here in College Station, Texas. I find it ironic some critics complain of having to dash through clouds of smoke at public doorways. Well ... yeah ... why do they think smokers are clustered outside of doorways? Because they don't have anywhere else to go for a smoke!
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LokoMac8
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| steverino wrote: | | Exactly, DRB. I just wrote a letter to the editor of our paper saying basically the same thing - we need to encourage smoking so our children will have insurance and our state budget can be balanced. |
I love that! I'm just trying to help out, too. Who would have thought that the mere act of smoking would translate to being a good citizen and patriot? We should scold non-smokers for NOT doing their part! They can at least buy the tobacco for ME if they are not going to smoke it. --RJ--
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drbridges
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| Quote: | | I love that! I'm just trying to help out, too. Who would have thought that the mere act of smoking would translate to being a good citizen and patriot? |
In East Texas many years ago, I had a neighbor who insisted the only reason he chewed 1 brick of tobacco each week was his doctor had prescribed it to him as a boy after a bout with roundworms. And the only reason he drank 2 beers each day was because his doctor prescribed it to stimulate his kidneys. You just can't find doctors with that kind of common sense these days.
So, I will insist the only reason I smoke tobacco is to support the government and children, which need the tax money. I may not enjoy it, but it is my obligatory burden.
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LokoMac8
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| drbridges wrote: | | So, I will insist the only reason I smoke tobacco is to support the government and children, which need the tax money. I may not enjoy it, but it is my obligatory burden. |
Indeed! And we ain't just blow'n smoke about this, either . . . --RJ--
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steverino
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The smoking ban bill, H2, was yesterday reported favorably from the Senate Health Care Committee. This committee restrengthened the bill by removing the exceptions placed in it by the House. The house had allowed for any establishment not serving those under 18 to have smoking, while those serving "families" would not. Now the bill is back to restricting smoking from any establishment where the "public" can enter. The one exception: smoking is allowed by actors on a movie set.
The bill will now go before the full Senate for approval. NC residents, contact your state Senator now if you want to give your input.
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steverino
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Further info: The bill was scheduled to be on the floor of the Senate today and/or tomorrow but was pulled until later next week because of some opposition expressed by Senate Democrats. Will be interesting to see what happens next.
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slowburn
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This will be a sad day for North Carolina indeed, if this bill passes.
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steverino
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I think we can be certain that it will pass, in some form. If the date hasn't been changed again, it is scheduled for a vote in the Senate on Wednesday the 6th. I'll be contacting my Senator...again.
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steverino
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Here are a few last minute details:
The bill goes before the full Senate for a vote on Wednesday (the 6th). The final version as approved by the Health Committee allows smoking in cigar bars, private clubs (the non-profit type) and on movie sets if the smoking is part of the script. The major change from the previous version was that the previous version allowed smoking anywhere as long as it could be shown that those under 18 were not allowed.
Please respond to your Senators as you deem appropriate.
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ted
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Steve...I'm in Florida, but called my Senator. Of the options I like the house bill better. Neither are worth a darn. Thanks for the update...ted
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steverino
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In case anyone is keeping track, the bill has again been yanked from the Senate calendar. It has been referred back to the Health Committee. I have seen no explanation on this but I did see that two other bills are being considered that address smoking in foster care homes. The ban bill may have been referred back pending discussion on these bills in case they want to incorporate something into H2 to speak to this. Will advise if I find out anything additional.
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