January 10, 2007
Smoking Ban Extended to Congress
With the District's smoking ban now in force throughout the city's bars and restaurants, pretty much the only option for smokers set on enjoying a quick cigarette without heading outside was getting elected to Congress. Today, that changed.
The Hill reports that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi officially banned smoking in the Speaker's Lobby, an ornate room beside the House chamber that for decades has been the refuge of smokers in Congress. The Post described the lobby thusly:
The lobby, where lawmakers relax between votes and debates, is blue with smoke most days. You can smell it from the approaching hallways. Cigarette smokers claim the leather wing chairs during the day, filling the ashtrays with butts. At night, the cigar smokers take over. A smoky film clings to an oversize mirror.According to a number of articles, Pelosi was encouraged to take the step by Rep. Henry Waxman, a California Democrat known for prying into the misdeeds of his Republican colleagues. In making the decision, Pelosi stated:
The days of smoke-filled rooms in the United States Capitol are over. Medical science has unquestionably established the dangerous effects of secondhand smoke, including an increased risk of cancer and respiratory diseases. I am a firm believer that Congress should lead by example.First to be affected may be House Minority Leader John Boehner, who often rushed to the lobby between votes to smoke. Representatives will still be allowed to smoke in their offices, though.
Now that Congress has caught up with the rest of the country on smoking in public buildings, will they ever start charging the District's $1 tax per pack in Senate stores? It might be a little much to ask, but here's to hoping.
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Couldn't the post have been a little more sly about all the smoking puns? Too heavy handed. The only funny one was probably an accident...
"When Boehner ascended, we figured it was hopeless," said Angela Bradbery, co-founder of Smokefree DC.
brilliant.
what a great start bush anounces death to another 22000 and the supposedly anti war program just fades away 'if this a show of where we are headed and what there priorities are ,god help us,the mad man is doing as he pleases,time to impeach bush and quickly cheney and allow crimes against humanity charges to be brought against both ,but i guess our self centered society feels they are so endangered by others smoke ,and we know that they are so much more important than any soldiers or some inocent iraq citizen
It has finally happened, smokers are no longer aloowed in government and therefore no longer represented anywhere. Smoking taxes without representation, one of the reasons for the American Revolution.
Although the medical industry has made claims about the effects of smoking, they can not back up any of them with evidence only conjecture.
These people are supposed to be smarter than that.
Uh, Bruce.. you do know that the Minority Leader in the House is a heavy smoker, right?
"First to be affected may be House Minority Leader John Boehner, who often rushed to the lobby between votes to smoke"
What a great way to show the adults are now in charge. Next up: Making sure everyone washes their hands after using the rest room.
Not surprising that Nancy Pelosi was the first to press this issue being as her top contributor
Kleiner, Perkins et al $16,700
... is kind of absorbed through the skin like a nicotine patch and gives the agent ... backing from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Sequoia Capital, ...
http://thecollectivelounge.blogspot.com/archives/... - 269k - Cached - Similar
Is there any wonder Nancy had to pay. Her largest benefactors owned her to do so.
It's not about Health any MSDS manual would show that this full of bunk.
You would also have to think that emission controls didn't work.
Air filtering system were useless.
Check out the rest of the democrats you might be interested to find that they bought these bans.
If she will sell one group of the public out who else will she sell out.
Nancy Pelosi;s to contributor was
... is kind of absorbed through the skin like a nicotine patch and gives the agent ... backing from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Sequoia Capital, ...
http://thecollectivelounge.blogspot.com/archives/... - 269k - Cached - Similar
Kleiner, Perkins et al $16,700
I would guess it wasn't for health it was for paying to the pharmaceutical company.
If she will sell out the people who smoke who else will she sell out