From: tac@cheztac.com
Date: Tue, 02/21/06
Greetings smokefree supporters!
We have exciting news from Virginia. The state legislature is considering a bill
(SB 648) that would make almost all public indoor workplaces smokefree,
including bars and restaurants. The only exceptions would be retail tobacco
stores and cigarette production facilities.
SB 648 passed the Senate by a 21-18 vote on February 13 and is now pending
before the House of Delegates, where it has been referred to the Committee on
General Laws. Specifically, it has been referred to the ABC-Gaming Subcommittee,
which is important because the House changed its rules this year to allow
subcommittees to kill bills. Even though SB 648 passed the Senate on a majority
vote, it could be killed by the six members of this subcommittee before ever
reaching the full committee, much less the House floor.
ACTION IS EXPECTED ON THE BILL THIS WEEK. If you live in Virginia, please
contact Virginia lawmakers today!! Click on http://www.smokefree.net/vahouse/
and ask them to express support for the bill and urge their colleagues on the
General Laws Committee to let this bill come to a vote before the full House of
Delegates.
Again, SB 648 would make most places of business in Virginia 100% smokefree,
including all bars and restaurants. This is a great piece of legislation that
Smokefree DC completely supports. Moreover, the passage of SB 648 will take
away the arguments against D.C.'s smokefree law that "people will just drive
over the Key Bridge into Arlington in order to smoke in a bar or restaurant."
(For the record, the experiences of other cities that have gone smokefree show
this won't happen. In fact, if anything, nonsmokers in Virginia will come to DC
to enjoy smokefree dining and nightlife.)
Please forward to anyone else who would take a moment to e-mail the delegates.
It's important that they hear from as many Virginians as possible. Thank you in
advance for helping our Virginia partners achieve a Smokefree Virginia.
DC SMOKEFREE UPDATE: The Congress is still reviewing the District's smokefree
workplaces measure. Currently it is scheduled to become law IN EARLY APRIL.
Sincerely,
Smokefree DC Steering Committee
ABC-Gaming Subcommittee Gear, Thomas D. (Chair) Abbitt, Watkins M., Jr. Albo,
David B. Armstrong, Ward L. Cosgrove, John A. Wright, Thomas C., Jr.
Committee on General Laws Reid, John S. (Chair) McQuigg, Mich�*�*le B. (Vice
Chair) Cox, M. Kirkland Albo, David B. Jones, S. Chris Suit, Terrie L. Rapp,
Melanie L. Wright, Thomas C., Jr. Oder, G. Glenn Saxman, Christopher B.
Marshall, Daniel W., III Gear, Thomas D. * Cosgrove, John A. Abbitt, Watkins
M., Jr. Phillips, Clarence E. Armstrong, Ward L. Barlow, William K. Hull, Robert
D. Ward, Jeion A. Dance, Rosalyn R. Tyler, Roslyn M. Bulova, David L.
SAMPLE LETTER
"Dear delegate,
As a resident of Virginia, I am writing to strongly urge you to vote in favor of
smoke-free air for indoor workplaces in Virginia. As you know, the Senate voted
in favor of SB 648, which would make indoor workplaces in Virginia free of
carcinogenic tobacco smoke.
The majority of Virginians want smoke-free workplaces legislation (see > >
http://www.healthyva.org/VFHFCIAPollResultsNewsRelJan05.pdf , Mason-Dixon
Polling & Research, Inc. January 2005 survey).
Environmental tobacco smoke is classified as a Group A carcinogen by the EPA.
This is the same exact classification as asbestos. This is the most dangerous
classification that can be assigned to a substance -- it means that there is no
minimal safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. Any amount of exposure,
however brief, is unsafe. We would never allow a restaurant to operate with
high levels of asbestos in the air; similarly, we should prevent business owners
from allowing tobacco smoke, also a Group A carcinogen, to permeate the air in
workplaces.
According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, tobacco smoke kills 38,000 to
65,000 NON-smokers ever year -- 1,000 to 1,500 of those killed are Virginians.
Voting in favor of this legislation is one of the best things you could do for
the health of Virginia.
Dozens of other jurisdictions - including states, counties and countries - have
already enacted similar legislation or are close to enacting it, and the numbers
will only continue to grow. Thank you for your time."
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