Posted on 11/07/2011 4:46:30 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Dem lawmakers seek to end smoking in all federal buildings By Pete Kasperowicz - 11/07/11 03:55 PM ET
Rep. Susan Davis (D-Calif.) and four other House Democrats on Friday proposed legislation that would completely ban smoking in and around all federal buildings.
The Smoke-Free Buildings Act, H.R. 3382, would build upon a 1997 executive order that banned smoking in most areas of federal buildings, but still allowed for smoking sections. Davis said that decision doesn't fully eliminate the risk of secondhand smoke.
"President Clinton's order was a great first step," Davis said. "But it's time to take the next step and eliminate all smoking in federal buildings. Despite setting aside certain areas for smoking, we know that people still get exposed to secondhand smoke."
Under the bill, no smoking at all would be allowed in or within 25 feet of all federal buildings, a ban that would take effect 90 days after the bill becomes law. It allows each agency to decide how to enforce the ban, and allows for exceptions only related to "research that may benefit public health."
The findings section of the bill says that tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, of which dozens are carcinogens, and says secondhand smoke is responsible for "almost 50,000 deaths in the United States each year." It also points out that the surgeon general of the U.S. has found there is "no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke," and that creating smoke-free workplaces is the only way to eliminate exposure.
Co-sponsors to the bill are Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Del. Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa), Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.).
Federal buildings belong to all of us, not just anti- or non-smokers.
Horse hockey. There is no way to do research on effects of secondhand smoke on anyone other than what they have been brainwashed with.
Screw the feds - they need to experience the same nanny BS we have to!
I agree, Federal buildings belong to the people.
And smokers have the right to foul their lungs if they choose.
But they don’t have the right to make me inhale their dirty and foul smelling fumes.
Don’t inhale.
Now that’s a thoughtful response, one that clearly meets the “morality” criteria you cite.
I hear that the OWS anarchists still allow smoking.
Where is the morality in that?
No matter how you try to twist the facts smoking in Gov’t buildings (or the banning of it) is not a property rights issue. It’s a human rights issue...you have the right to smoke but you don’t have the right to force me to live with the stinky, poisonous consequences of that dirty habit.
How about smoking outside Federal buildings in open air?
How about smoking outside Federal buildings in open air?
So, every time you go into a federal building, somebody chains you to an immovable object.
Now I understand.
Go for it.
Maybe we should let all non-smokers take a break whenever smokers decide light up.
Or we could have ventilation hoods installed over the desks of smokers.
You beat me to it
Funny how some of these so called conservatives turn into raving Facists when it comes to smoking.
If 2nd hand smoke killed,my dad’s Old Golds would have dropped me in about 1959.
I'll quit bitchin' about fat chicks if a few of you will quit bitchin' about willingly running into a tobacco fume.
Theoretically, you could control when you run into a tobacco fume. I have no way to control running into fat chicks, other than to give them their own country.
Smoking is a dirty, filthy, smelly habit that is also known to kill people. I’m sorry that you don’t have the self control to quit.
If you feel so strongly about your property rights being abridged perhaps you should hire a lawyer and go after those nasty Gov’t bureaucrats who want to deprive you.
So is overeating. Where do you draw the line where government gets involved?
If you feel so strongly about your property rights being abridged perhaps you should hire a lawyer and go after those nasty Gov’t bureaucrats who want to deprive you.
Underway, thank you. Get ready to have your statist a$$ handed to you.
So you’re a skinny smoker. I’m a skinny non-smoker. Still doesn’t give you the right to foul the air where others have to work.
It seems you want to tie this to being fat but your logic is flawed...over-eating and smoking in Gov’t buildings are two separate issues.
Free men (what few are left) seek to oppose that and fight it where they can win it.
Which camp do you fall into?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.