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Posted on 10/01/2002 6:19:47 AM PDT by SheLion
Smokers have long complained that their rights are being taken away they can't puff in bars, restaurants or in the workplace and are subject to taxes. And if they work for Los Angeles County, they're also docked $10 a month. "This bad habit has cost me $90 so far this year,' said Bobi Johnson, Supervisor Gloria Molina's health deputy, and a smoker. "That doesn't count what I've spent buying these cigarettes.' Officials from area cities, the California State Association of Counties, the League of California Cities and the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California say they know of no other government agencies that have such a policy. "I think it's very unusual,' said League of California Cities spokeswoman Raechelle Cline. "I haven't been able to find any cities doing that, but that doesn't necessarily mean they aren't but that they haven't told us about it.' About 850 non-union county employees annually mark the "yes' box to the question: Have you used any tobacco products within the last 12 months? Those who do lose $120 a year in monthly payments. The county collects about $100,000 a year from smokers who, on the honor system, admit to their nicotine habit. "It's called a smoker's fee,' said Bill Lynes, the county's head of compensation. "It goes into a fund that helps defray the cost of health insurance for the larger group.' Lynes says the smoker's fee has been around since January, 1993, after the county Board of Supervisors approved it based on a recommendation from the chief administrative officer. The money is added to a pool of money that is allocated to all employees to spend for health insurance. The amount varies, based on salaries and years with the county. Employees who work in the county's Hahn Hall of Administration say patios and balconies on various floors are filled with the pushed-out smokers on their breaks some who do and some who don't cough up the smoker's fee each month. In any event, almost no one has complained, county officials say. "We really don't hear complaints about this, which is kind of interesting,' Lynes said.
And I am really suspicious about the extra money being milked from the smokers......is it REALLY going into some kind of health fund? Why should the smokers pay for EVERYBODY'S health care? What about the fatty's? Why doesn't the BOSS weigh all the employees, and anyone who is overweight, pay $1.00 per each pound of fat that they are overweight until they lose the blub?
Obesity is costing far more in health care today. Even the Surgeon General has a report out that obesity has passed smoking for health care and disease. So, why aren't the fat people being charged extra money as well?
Smokers more than make up for their extra cost by dying (their choice-not yours) sooner; collecting less social security and pensions, and less time in nursing homes. The state tax on cigarettes is all gravy. This is all backed up by facts.
Interesting choice of words.
Number 1 - If I'm paying $120 a year I better be in a private club with smoking privileges.
Number 2 - Do you see where that EXTRA money goes? It's not for the extra costs of the SMOKERS' insurance. It goes to EVERYBODIES insurance.
Someone needs to sue.
Because there are more of us! We have political power.
I am very suspicious of this. And like I said: why do the smokers have to contribute to EVERYONE'S health care? What about the FATTY'S?
Smokers have been demonized so bad. And the people that have to pay this extra money at work must do so, because they feel "unworthy" and this helps them sleep at night.
They think "Oh! I am a dirty smoker. I NEED to pay extra!" It's all so sick! 
We HAVE our own private health insurance, thank you! No one pays for us. We pay our own way!
This "WE" excludes the County employees. BTW, it is always fun to 'twist' your tail. :~)
That old crock has been debunked so many times it's due for an oil change. If that's the only reason you think what others do is any of your business, you'd better start looking for a new hobby.
"The lifetime health cost for a smoking man is $72,700 and $94,700 for a smoking woman. For nonsmokers, the cost is $83,400 for a man; $111,000 for a woman.
"If people stopped smoking today, there would be a savings in health care costs, but only in the short term. Eventually, smoking cessation would lead to increased health care costs." --New England Journal of Medicine,1997;337:1052-7.
It's coming to that, believe me! Even filling out Health Records at Doctor's offices, people that smoke are starting to not check that. I am so tired of the verbal abuse at the hospitals here. If they know you smoke, they sigh and roll their eyes, and I am just sick of it.
The biggest ANTI-Smoker fighting to take away our rights is a Gay Man! Go figure.
Twisting my tail will bring out my CLAWS! 
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