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2009 Legislation

March 9, 2009

On March 9th, Governor Kaine signed into law approved legistion for a statewide restaurant smoking ban at Croc's 19th Street Bistro in VA Beach.  The ban will go into effect on December 1st, 2009.

February 17, 2009

The Senate rejected the ammendments added to the smoking ban bill from the House of Delegates.  The bill will now go to the conference committee to determine the actual language of the bill.

February 6, 2009

The Governor's compromise smoking ban passed the House General Laws Committee last evening by a vote of 16-6.  The bill nows moves to the full house.

February 5, 2009

Today, Governor Kaine along with key members of the House of Delegates announced a compromise smoking ban bill that will ban smoking in all restaurants except private clubs, and restaurants with completely enclosed, self-ventillating smoking rooms.

This new smoking ban bill along with all other "smoking" bills will go immediately to the House General Laws Subcommitte today.

To see the entire press conference, please click here.

January 22, 2009

Contact your legislator and urge them to vote NO on the following bills:

House Bills 1692, 1703, 1704, 1833, 2007, 2067, 2246 and 2483 are proposals to change the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act to ban smoking in restaurants and other public places.  Smoking ban legislation eliminates the ability of a restaurant owner to determine how to operate his or her business. 

68% of restaurants in Virginia have gone smoke-free on their own.  Both customers and employees are able to choose restaurants that are smoke-free.

*Virginia Department of Health (http://www.healthspace.ca/vdh)

This proves that the free market is moving towards smoke-free restaurants proving that a government mandate is not needed.

The restaurant industry employs 330,200 workers here in Virginia

*National Restaurant Association (http://www.restaurant.org/research/state/)

Virginian restaurants are feeling the economic pinch and are doing everything possible to keep their doors open.  A smoking ban will lead to a revenue loss for most restaurants leaving most restaurateurs with no option other than to let employees go!

A smoking ban is a ban on the rights of business owners.  All restaurants are privately owned businesses.  If smoking is banned today, what could it become tomorrow?

The State Health Department does regulate food-service to safeguard patrons from hidden dangers, like salmonella and other food-borne bacteria.  But additional regulations on smoking are unnecessary because cigarette smoke is apparent and can be avoided by choice.

 

Even the press is against a ban!

“The argument over a smoking ban is not about whether smoking is good or bad. It is about whether non-smokers should be able to impose their preference on thousands of establishments in which they will never even set foot.” -Richmond-Times Dispatch 01/08/2009

“If patrons don’t want to go to restaurants where smoking is allowed, they won’t. Restaurant owners will take it upon themselves to ban smoking if they see a drop-off in business. And it is not as if restaurants don’t make concessions for non-smokers; most restaurants are already split into smoking and non-smoking sections… Smoking is a choice. Those who smoke decide to do so. And people who go into restaurants where smoking is allowed have simply exercised their free will. The government need not intervene.” –Potomac News 01/08/2009

Download a copy of these talking points here.  Call your legislator today and protect the rights of cigar smokers and business owners in Virginia!  Time is critical in this matter.

January 20, 2009

There is an unprecedented fifteen pieces of anti-cigar legislation in the 2009 General Assembly. They include the following:

 

Click here for a history of the 2008 Legislation