Amendments weaken smoking ban

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on April 1, 2009 - 6:51pm.
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A smoking ban was weakened on the House floor today.

Rep. Hugh Holliman, the Democratic majority leader and bill sponsor, took different stances on four amendments that exempted different types of businesses:

CIGAR BARS: Rep. Wil Neumann, a Gaston County Republican, proposed exempting cigar bars. Holliman did not object. Adopted 93-24.

ADULTS-ONLY: Rep. Nelson Cole, a Rockingham County Democrat, proposed exempting restaurants and bars that do not allow minors. Supporters said it would gut the bill. Adopted 70-46.

SINGLE OWNERS: Rep. Paul Stam, a Wake County Republican, proposed exempting small home-based businesses. Holliman called it "far-fetched" but did not oppose it. Adopted 113-3.

GROWERS: Rep. Thom Tillis, a Mecklenburg County Republican, proposed exempting tobacco growers, processors and dealers. Holliman did not object. Adopted 115-2.

In addition, Holliman said another amendment would likely be proposed Thursday exempting Veterans of Foreign Wars halls.

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Re: Amendments weaken smoking ban

Submitted by jjsmith2 on April 2, 2009 - 9:41am.

They want the amendment removed because they are cowards. They do not want to make the business decision themselves, instead they want the government to force those decisions onto everyone else.

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Re: Amendments weaken smoking ban

Submitted by AquaMan on April 2, 2009 - 9:31am.

The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association apparently wants the Cole amemdment removed

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Bars Have Nothing To Fear

Submitted by AquaMan on April 2, 2009 - 5:16am.

A Indiana University review of state and local smoking bans concludes bars and casinos have nothing to fear economically, and might even benefit.

IU didn't conduct its own study, but examined 49 past peer-reviewed studies of the effects of smoking laws from New York to Fort Wayne. 47 of them found no economic harm to business.

Center for Health Policy director Eric Wright says the sample was skewed in one of the two exceptions, while the other reviewed smoking bans passed in tandem with other laws. He says there's no reason to expect anything similar to interfere with the results of a smoking ban in Indiana.

Wright says smoke-free businesses can save $1,000 to $2,000 per employee in health costs, and $19 per 100 square feet in cleaning costs. That's on top of the increased customer traffic he says many establishments enjoyed, from a three-percent uptick in Lexington, Kentucky, to a 39-percent surge in the first month after Fort Wayne passed its smoking ban.

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