PA: Greater Philadelphia Chamber Supports City Council Bill to Ban Smoking in Public Places

yahoonews.com ^ | March 3, 2:01 pm ET

[SheLion]

PHILADELPHIA, March 3  -- Mark Schweiker, President & CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, today voiced the Chamber's support of a City Council bill to ban smoking in virtually all public places in Philadelphia. Schweiker said that the success of smoking bans in cities worldwide and the dangers of second-hand smoke influenced the Chamber's decision. 

"The facts prove that banning smoking in public places will not adversely affect business," said Schweiker. "In fact, one year after New York City enacted its smoking ban, business activity actually increased in restaurants and bars and 10,000 jobs were added. We understand the angst of some establishment owners, but we truly believe that this will be a positive for businesses in Philadelphia, both in terms of bottom-line performance and the related health benefits to patrons and employees."

Appearing at a news conference with Philadelphia City Councilman Michael Nutter, Museum Catering President Bruce Nichols, members of the Building Owners and Managers Association, and representatives of the American Heart Association, Schweiker recalled that four years ago, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce expressed opposition to a City Council bill which would have enforced smoking limitations in public places. At that time, the Chamber believed that businesses would incur significant financial burdens by altering their structures to meet the specifications of the bill.

In addition to New York City, the Chamber cites examples of smoking restrictions in Boston, California and Texas, in which owners of eating and drinking establishments initially protested the restrictions, and then came to support the measures after experiencing the economic advantages. Several countries where smoking is popular, such as Ireland, Italy, Spain and even Cuba, have all severely curtailed or eliminated smoking in public places without hurting business.

According to the statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency, second-hand smoke contains 40 substances which are known to cause cancer in humans or animals and kill 3,000 people each year. For smokers, the numbers are even more frightening: the World Health Organization estimates that tobacco kills 4.9 million a year, and that figure is expected to grow to 10 million by 2020.

"This is both a sound business position and a serious public health concern," said Schweiker. "From the Chamber's standpoint, it makes sense to support a smoking ban. I applaud the Mayor and Councilman Nutter for their farsighted leadership on this matter."

 

[SheLion]

"The facts prove that banning smoking in public places will not adversely affect business," said Schweiker. "In fact, one year after New York City enacted its smoking ban, business activity actually increased in restaurants and bars and 10,000 jobs were added.

Oh really!  Then why are all the NYC smoker's taking their money to New Jersey??!!  And why are all the smokers in Delaware taking their money to Virginia?  And why is it that we have so much proof that smoking bans DO cripple the economy??

The Facts

According to the statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency, second-hand smoke contains 40 substances which are known to cause cancer in humans or animals and kill 3,000 people each year. For smokers, the numbers are even more frightening: the World Health Organization estimates that tobacco kills 4.9 million a year, and that figure is expected to grow to 10 million by 2020.

Why don't these idiots keep up to date on their facts. 

Federal Court Rules Against EPA on Secondhand Smoke    They aren't aware of THIS???!!  Then they are dumber then we are.  At least WE know about the EPA's ruling.

And the WHO's report was shot down and swept under the rug.  But these idiot lawmakers are still using it???  See how they continue to spew their lies to the general public in order to force their agenda's on us??

THE PURPOSE OF THE WHO'S ETS SCAM

Smoking Bans: Bad Science, Bad Policy

Why Scientists Filter the Facts on Smoking

 

[SheLion]

[kingattax]

why dont they ban farting in public places too ?

[catroina54]

if second hand smoke is a cause of death,why are there no death certificates stating this as the cause ?
where are the thousands of surviving family members of those that worked in bars,diners,resaurants etc.---and died from inhalation of this toxic 2nd hand smoke-why aren't they screaming for compensation ?

[CSM]

I suggest all members of the Chamber renounce their membership and fail to send in any dues at renewal time. When the Chamber of Commerce fails to recognize that the market should drive the decision of a private business owner, then that chamber is no longer interested in commerce.

[nothingnew]

Councilman Nutter

"nuff said.

FMCDH(BITS)

[Gabz]

Calling on the Cantiloper to weigh in on your favorite Philly councilman.....the McNuttiest!!!!

[GloriaJane]

LOL!!! That's funny! The city council banned smoking here in Columbus Ohio and now the bars say they are going under fast! Why? Because their smoking customers go to bars in the suburbs where they can smoke. LOL!!

The bar owners are calling for the whole state to either put in a ban so their customers wont have any place to go that allows smoking or let businesses who have over 65% alcohol revenue allow smoking.

They are thinking about putting it on the ballet but many of the bar owners say they will be forced out of business by then. So I guess it's costing jobs in Columbus while it will be making jobs in the burbs.

[CSM]

Of course they forget about the potential increase in drinking and driving. When you drive drinking customers further from home, lives are put at risk!

[SheLion]

if second hand smoke is a cause of death, why are there no death certificates stating this as the cause ?
where are the thousands of surviving family members of those that worked in bars, diners, restaurants etc.---and died from inhalation of this toxic 2nd hand smoke-why aren't they screaming for compensation ?

There is not ONE death certificate on record that states that the person died from smoking or from second hand smoke.  Can you imagine how stupid this sounds?

The Tobacco Settlement Money (to which smokers pay 110%.....not the government and Not Big Tobacco, but the smokers), and this money went to the lawmakers heads because there was so much of it.  And it has created a monster that will be hard to dig out from.  Short of banning tobacco altogether.  And we all know that won't happen.  The lawmakers won't be able to line their cushy coffers without the taxes on cigarettes.  This whole business smells to high heaven.

[SheLion]

I suggest all members of the Chamber renounce their membership and fail to send in any dues at renewal time. When the Chamber of Commerce fails to recognize that the market should drive the decision of a private business owner, then that chamber is no longer interested in commerce.

I can't believe this coming from the Chamber.  It's usually the City Councils pushing these bans. 

The Chamber is someone we call when we need to find a business in our city, etc.  They need to keep their nose out of this.  The Chamber wants to entice people to come to their cities, not push them away!

And it is the business of the City Councils to take care of the business's in the towns and cities.  Not RUN the business's!

[SheLion]

Pennsylvania Information

(click on state)

 

Tobacco Taxes Pennsylvania's excise tax per pack of cigarettes: $1.350 Pennsylvania's excise tax collection for the fiscal year ending June 2002: $331,645,000 Sales tax on tobacco products: 6.00% Federal excise tax per pack of cigarettes: $0.39 Total federal excise tax collections in fiscal year 2002: $7,512,700,000 Click here for the Cigarette Tax and Payment Table for all states.

Who Profits from Cigarette Sales?

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Comparing Excise Taxes on Cigarettes, Beer

 

click for larger view

Number of six-packs of beer that must be sold in Pennsylvania to produce the same state excise tax revenue generated by one carton of cigarettes: 222.2

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Pennsylvania Smokers' Contributions
to the State Economy - 2002

 

In 2001, Pennsylvania smokers comprise only 24.5%¹ of the adult population in the state. Here is what they already pay because they choose to buy a legal product:

Smokers Pay Excise Taxes2	$	331,645,347
Smokers Pay Sales Taxes2	$	202,804,803
Smokers Pay Tobacco Settlement Payments3	$	411,219,801
	$	945,669,951

Smokers' Economic/Tax Profile 2001

 

• Income¹

Pennsylvania smokers' median household income	$	33,807
Pennsylvania nonsmokers' median household income	$	41,302

• Working Families Pay More¹

36.3% of PA smokers had household income LESS than $25,000

10% of PA smokers had household income EQUAL to or GREATER THAN $75,000

The impact of smoker payments on the incomes of working families was more than THREE TIMES the impact on higher income smokers. Those who can afford it least pay a disproportionate percentage of their hard-earned income in smoker payments.

• Smoker Excise Tax/Sales Tax/Tobacco Settlement Payments Liability in 2002⁴

Total average paid per Pennsylvania smoker in excise and sales taxes	$	233
Cost per Pennsylvania smoker for settlement payments to Pennsylvania	$	179
Total annual payment to Pennsylvania per smoker	$	412
Total annual payment to Pennsylvania per nonsmoker	$	0

 

Pennsylvania Smoker Facts ⁵

• Pennsylvania smoker payments in FY2002 were:
  • Five times larger than FY2001 excise taxes on alcoholic beverages ($187.6 million).
  • Larger than Pennsylvania's FY2001 motor fuels tax revenues ($785.7 million).
  • More than two-thirds (68%) as large as FY2001 state net corporate income tax collections ($1.4 billion).
• The total amount paid by smokers in Pennsylvania in FY2002 would have supported available FY2002 general fund amounts for:
  • Special Education ($861.4 million)
    OR
  • Community and Economic Development ($461.7 million) AND Environmental Protection ($245.6 million) AND State Police ($178 million) COMBINED
    OR
  • Health ($256.5 million); and the Higher Education Assistance Agency ($412.8 million) COMBINED.
• In 1997, smokers provided 18,943 jobs that paid an additional $28.2 million to the state in personal and corporate income taxes.⁶

TOTAL SMOKER CIGARETTE PAYMENTS TO PENNSYLVANIA

Per year:	$	945,669,951
Per day:	$	2,589,103
Per hour:	$	107,879
Per minute:	$	1,798
Per second:	$	30

CIGARETTES DON'T PAY TAXES -
PENNSYLVANIA SMOKERS DO!!

 

¹ Centers for Disease Control's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2001
² Orzechowski & Walker, Arlington, Virginia; from state revenue department
³ PriceWaterhouseCooper
⁴ U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 state population and Centers for Disease Control's Behavioral Risk Surveillance System, 2001
⁵ Tax and Budget Comparisons are from the U.S. Census Bureau and The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Governor's Office of the Budget, 2002-03 General Fund Enacted Budget Overview. Online at http://www.budget.state.pa.us/budget/cwp/browse.asp?A=3&BCOB=0&C=19265.
⁶ American Economics Group, Inc., The U.S. Tobacco Industry in 1997: Its Economic Impact in the States.

 

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Master Settlement Agreement Payments To Date

 

 

$1,198,236,562 has been paid to Pennsylvania since the Master Settlement Agreement was signed on November 23, 1998.

 

 

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Pennsylvania Tobacco Laws

 

A summary of Pennsylvania commonwealth law is provided below
(for specific questions regarding commonwealth law, contact your legal advisor.)

 

Minimum Age	Customers must be 18 years or older to purchase tobacco products. Displaying or offering a cigarette for sale out of a pack of cigarettes is prohibited.
Restricted Products	A cigarette, cigar, pipe tobacco or other smoking tobacco product or smokeless tobacco in any form, manufactured for the purpose of consumption by a purchaser and any cigarette paper or product used for smoking tobacco.
Acceptable Forms of Identification	Photo driver's license or identification card issued by the Department of Transportation or by any other state, armed forces identification card, valid passport or a travel visa issued by a foreign country that contains the holder's photograph.
Fine/Penalty Schedule for Selling to Minors	Violators will be subject to a fine of $100 - $250 for a first offense; $250 - $500 for a second offense; or $500 - $1,000 for subsequent offenses. A retailer that violates this provision shall be sentenced to pay a fine of $100 - $500 for a first offense; $500 - $1,000 for a second offense; $1,000 - $3,000 for a third offense; or $3,000 - $5,000 for subsequent offenses. Upon a third conviction of a retailer during any 24-month period, the department may suspend the retailer's cigarette license for up to 30 days. For a fourth conviction of a retailer during any 24-month period, the department may revoke the retailer's cigarette license for up to 60 days.
Affirmative Defense	A retailer is liable for the acts of its agents. However, it is an affirmative defense for a retailer that, prior to the date of the alleged violation, the retailer complied with all of the following: (a) adopted and implemented a written policy against selling tobacco products to minors which includes: a requirement that an employee ask an individual who appears to be 25 years of age or younger for a valid photo identification as proof of age prior to making a sale of tobacco products; a list of all types of acceptable photo identification; a list of factors to be examined in the photo identification, including photo likeness, birth date, expiration date, bumps, tears or other damage and signature; a requirement that if the photo identification is missing anything, it is not valid and cannot be accepted as proof of age for the sale of tobacco products (a second photo identification may be required to make the sale of tobacco products with questions referred to the manager); and a disciplinary policy which includes employee counseling and suspension for failure to require valid photo identification and dismissal for repeat improper sales. (b) informed all employees selling tobacco products through an established training program of the applicable federal and state laws regarding the sale of tobacco products to minors; (c) documented employee training indicating that all employees selling tobacco products have been informed of and understand the written policy; (d) trained all employees selling tobacco products to verify that the purchaser is at least 18 years of age before selling tobacco products; (e) conspicuously posted a notice that selling tobacco products to a minor is illegal, that the purchase of tobacco products by a minor is illegal and that a violator is subject to penalties; and (f) established and implemented disciplinary sanctions for noncompliance. An affirmative defense under this paragraph may be used by a retailer no more than three times at each retail location during any 24-month period.
Minor Possession	Minors are prohibited from purchasing or attempting to purchase a tobacco product or knowingly falsely represents himself to be at least 18 years of age to a person for the purpose of purchasing or receiving a tobacco product. Violators shall be sentenced to any or all of the following: up to 75 hours of community service; completion of a tobacco use prevention and cessation program approved by the department of health; a fine not to exceed $ 200; or a 30-day suspension of motor vehicle operating privileges.
Sign Requirement	There is not a state mandated sign requirement.
Compliance Checks	As a condition of receiving federal substance abuse block grant funds, federal law requires the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to conduct random, unannounced inspections of tobacco outlets to determine compliance rates.
DISCLAIMER: This information summary is provided as a service of the Coalition, but is not intended to provide legal advice or analysis. These summaries are not intended to be complete representations of state law, which may contain additional rules and restrictions relating to tobacco products not mentioned in this summary, as well as retailing prohibitions related to matters including, but not limited to, state required training, minimum pack size, the sale of loose cigarettes and other restrictions. Retailers should not rely on these summaries as complete or accurate descriptions of applicable federal, state or local law. Users with questions about the law should seek the advice of counsel. Each state law is unique and possibly represents multiple legislative or regulatory acts. Local laws may differ. Check with local authorities for variations from state law. These summaries are not intended to be complete representations of state law.

 

The reprinting of this information from the Coalition, does not constitute a representation or admission by RJRT that such information is accurate, complete, or a proper characterization of the laws concerned. The Coalition for Responsible Tobacco Retailing is a cooperative effort among retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers who share a common goal: to do all they can to prevent tobacco sales to minors.

[GloriaJane]

I know LOL!! But our Democratic city council members would rather you die in a car accident and take a lot of innocent people out with you then someday maybe, might be, possibly someone get cancer from second hand smoke.