Denver: Senate tentatively approves statewide smoking ban for restaurants

9News.com ^ | 4-27-05 | Paola Farer

[SheLion]

DENVER - A statewide smoking ban got preliminary approval in the state Senate Wednesday but the measure still faces some stiff opposition before it becomes law. It is also less restrictive than its proponents might like.

The proposal would ban smoking in most restaurants. But when it was originally proposed it would have banned smoking in bars and office buildings as well.

Supporters like Sen. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, say the measure that passed is a step in the right direction. He said he wants all restaurants in the state to compete under the same rules, pointing out that smoking is already banned in public places by at least 13 local governments.

"What we have today in Colorado is a patchwork of regulation. Businesses that are affected by this, whether it be a county ordinance or a municipal ordinance, are crying foul. They say they were put at a competitive disadvantage because the county next door or the city next door does not have the same regulation," Grossman said.

Opponents say the measure is too much regulation "Bills like these and so many others we have seen this year are turning the land of the free and the home of the brave into the land of the overregulated and the home of the hypersensitive," said Sen. Mark Hillman, R-Burlington.

Opponents say under current law individual business owners can always ban smoking at their own establishment if they care to.

The measure still faces another Senate vote before it goes to the House, where supporters said they will try to restore the ban to include bars and casinos.

Grossman said government needs to be "heavy-handed" in some areas, including public health.

"This bill represents active government," he said.

If the measure doesn't get enough votes to pass the Legislature, it could end up on the ballot. But the soonest that would happen would be November 2006.

[SheLion]

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[SheLion]

Lawmakers want no smoking? Then stop the Tobacco Settlement feeding billions into their coffers. NOW!

[goldstategop]

Liberals = Lifestyle Nazis.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[SheLion]

Liberals = Lifestyle Nazis.

I'm sick of it.  The general non-smoking public have no earthly idea that the states are using the taxes smoker's pay on every pack of cigarettes to ban, restrict and control them by the lawmakers.

This has got to stop.  Anyone else paying taxes would never put up with this blatant abuse of authority.

The Tobacco Settlement money is NOT being paid for by the government OR Big Tobacco.  But by the smoker's 110% who pay taxes on cigarettes.

Does anyone understand this yet???!!!

[SheLion]

Colorado lawmakers don't want smokers, then smokers in Colorado do not want them to have their tax dollars either!

Leave this decision up to the private business owners!

 

"The role of government is not to create wealth.
The role of government is to create an environment
in which the entrepreneur or small business or
dreamer can flourish.  And that starts with rule of law,
respect of private property, less regulatory burdens on the
entrepreneur, open banking laws so that all people
have access to capital, and good tax policy."

President George W. Bush
St. Petersburg University,
St. Petersburg, Russia
May 25, 2002

[Gabz]

I'm sick of it. The general non-smoking public have no earthly idea that the states are using the taxes smoker's pay on every pack of cigarettes to ban, restrict and control them by the lawmakers.

It's actually even worse..............many of the anti smoker lobbyists (that is exactly what they are) are being PAID by those same tax dollars, often in the form of grants.

[SheLion]

It's actually even worse..............many of the anti smoker lobbyists (that is exactly what they are) are being PAID by those same tax dollars, often in the form of grants.

Anyone who hasn't been following the war on the smokers have no clue about any of this!

The grant money, the lobby, the AMA, the Boards of Health, the City Councils, and the list goes on and on. 

They all pat the smoker's on the back to find a soft spot to stick a knife into and I can't stand it anymore.

If they want smoke free, then they will have to suffer the loss of all of that tax revenue generated by smoker's.  They can't have both!

And just who the hell are these people that think they can go into a "PRIVATE BUSINESS" and tell them how to run it!  This is beyond mind boggling.

[Just another Joe]

He said he wants all restaurants in the state to compete under the same rules, pointing out that smoking is already banned in public places by at least 13 local governments.

Then it's not competition, it's compliance.

[SheLion]

Then it's not competition, it's compliance.

Without a doubt.  I'm irate. 

Long arm of the law over a legal product.  This has got to stop.  The lawmakers have to know that we know what is going on here.

[Mears]

I really enjoyed my trip to Colorado 18 months ago and my daughter wants me out there again this fall. This may influence my decision.(For any idiots who think I'm choosing smoking over my daughter,forget it. It's an expensive trip and she comes home 3 times a year)

Madness! I never expected this in the west---Massachusetts didn't surprise me at all.

[dhs12345]

I wonder if the casinos in Central City/Black Hawk and Cripple Creek will be required to comply?

Seems to be the rule: gamblers like to smoke and casinos floors allow smoking.

I am happy the way it is right now. I don't smoke and I always request the nonsmoking section. Has always worked for me.

[Mears]

You have good common sense' There are others out there who have the attitude "If I don't like it no one can do it" and they use their health as an excuse,which is a crock.

[dhs12345]

"...that tax revenue generated by smoker's."

Agreed. What is the tax on a pack of cigarettes now?

Example: the story about people smuggling cheap cigarettes across our northern boarder to save tax. The US officials complained, not about the health risks due to smoking, but the loss in revenues. Nothing was mentioned about the health risks. They only cared about the money.

Of course, you will hear all about the evils of tobacco.... when they are suing the cigarette manufactures.

[SheLion]

Agreed. What is the tax on a pack of cigarettes now?

Example: the story about people smuggling cheap cigarettes across our northern boarder to save tax. The US officials complained, not about the health risks due to smoking, but the loss in revenues. Nothing was mentioned about the health risks. They only cared about the money.

Of course, you will hear all about the evils of tobacco.... when they are suing the cigarette manufactures.

Here, just pick a state and it will tell you just how much smoker's are contributing to their state's economy:

Your State Information:    (up to date)

View your tobacco taxes, a comparison of state excise taxes on cigarettes to state excise taxes on beer and wine, MSA payments to date, State laws, and links to other state-specific information.

Alabama Information / Alaska Information  / Arizona Information / Arkansas Information  / California Information / Colorado Information / Connecticut Information / Delaware Information  / DC Information / Florida Information  / Georgia Information  / Hawaii Information / Idaho Information  / Illinois Information  / Indiana Information  / Iowa Information  / Kansas Information / Kentucky Information / Louisiana Information  / Maine Information / Maryland Information / Massachusetts Information / Michigan Information / Minnesota Information  / Mississippi Information / Missouri Information / Montana Information  / Nebraska Information  / Nevada Information / New Hampshire Information / New Jersey Information  / New Mexico Information / New York Information / North Carolina Information / North Dakota Information  / Ohio Information  / Oklahoma Information  / Oregon Information  / Pennsylvania Information  / Rhode Island Information / South Carolina Information / South Dakota Information / Tennessee Information / Texas Information / United States Information / Utah Information / Vermont Information / Virginia Information / Washington Information  / West Virginia Information  / Wisconsin Information / Wyoming Information 

[RandallFlagg]

BTW, Thanks for the post and ping, lady.