Smoking ban crossover

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on May 3, 2007 - 7:53am.
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Among the crossover votes on the failed smoking ban, Rep. Jeff Barnhart was notable.

The Concord Republican's district includes a cigarette manufacturing plant owned by Virginia-based Philip Morris USA.

He began his remarks by noting that a lot of people in his district disagreed with his decision to support the bill.

He then spoke about his father-in-law, a nonsmoker who died of lung cancer after working around smokers, and his fears for his daughter's health.

"This is not against smokers. I've got some real good friends that smoke a lot. This is not against them personally," he said. "But when you talk about freedoms, I think somebody else's freedom ends when it enters my lungs."

  Barnhart on smoking ban


Barnhart on smoking ban

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Re: Smoking ban crossover

Submitted by markezzell on May 3, 2007 - 11:09am.

Jeff Barnhart is a statesman, pure and simple. With this vote, he put the public good ahead of political expediency. Not all politicians deserve to also be called "public servants", but this guy does.

One curious note: All of Pitt County's House members votes against the smoking ban. Much like Durham County, Pitt County has altered their economy so that healthcare- not tobacco farming- is the region's mainstay. With this vote, the Pitt County delegation seemed to have forgotten that. It'll be interesting how today's Pitt County residents will react to this anti-health vote.

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Re: Smoking ban crossover

Submitted by JacksonTodd on May 3, 2007 - 10:25am.

www.afpnc.org

Smoking Ban Defeat Victory For Private Property Owners

Americans for Prosperity – North Carolina Grassroots Members Key To Victory

RALEIGH, N.C. –The North Carolina State House defeated a proposed statewide smoking ban after grassroots members of Americans for Prosperity-North Carolina and other supporters of private property rights expressed opposition to the proposed private property smoking ban.

“From day one Americans for Prosperity-North Carolina has pointed out that any restaurant owner in North Carolina is free to operate a smoke-free establishment and many have elected to do so, based on feedback from their patrons and employees, and this is how it should be,” said AFP-NC Communications Director Dallas Woodhouse. “While we should all be mindful of health concerns, people in a free society should be able to make choices that other people may not agree with. The vote on the North Carolina House Floor was a historic victory for individual liberty and private property rights.”

Support is high for property owners deciding the smoking policy for their establishment according to a recent poll by the John William Pope Civitas Institute. The poll shows that 70% of North Carolinians support the rights of restaurant, bar and tavern owners to set their own smoking policy as long as a sign is posted at the entrance of the property.

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