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Ear to the Ground

Pelosi Mulls Smoking Ban

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Posted on Dec 8, 2006
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D.C. may be smoke-free, but Congress gets to set its own rules.  Unfortunately for nicotine-craving lawmakers (25% of Congress), the Democrats’ victory may lead to change for more than Iraq and the minimum wage—Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi is considering a ban on smoking in the U.S. Capitol.


Washington Post:

When the District goes smoke-free Jan. 2, at least one nicotine haven will remain: the U.S. Capitol. Lawmakers, several of whom enjoy a good cigar, have exempted themselves from the city’s smoking ban, not to mention rules that forbid lighting up in federal buildings across the country.

But winds of change may be blowing on the Hill.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat from smoke-free California and the next speaker of the House, is thinking of banishing tobacco from the most popular smoking spot in the building: the Speaker’s Lobby outside the House chamber. “I’m not an advocate of smoking,” Pelosi said [Thursday], adding that she hadn’t yet decided on a ban. “I think it’s dangerous to your health.”

Smoking is permitted in lawmakers’ offices, in two cafeterias in the House and Senate buildings and in an unmarked, cramped room in the basement of the U.S. Capitol.

But the Speaker’s Lobby, the ornate space dotted with fireplaces and chandeliers, is the real smoke-filled room, the biggest and most visible space where smokers gather. 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.

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By Bill, April 8, 2007 at 3:18 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

This is another ridiculous attempt by government to unfairly censor and police members of a free society.  Smokers have rights, also, isn’t it enough that we are unfairly taxed without representation?

Check out my site: http://www.smokinglobby.com - you can discuss all smokers rights issues there.

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By Skruff, December 9, 2006 at 9:31 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

What’s a person with libetarian bent to do?  Once it was the D’s who were nannies keeping adults safe from themselves… Pelosi is in the right party… BUT the R’s are also sticking their noses in the business of adults.. Many of the private indrustry restrictions on smoking arrived when the R’s controled both houses of congress…
...and only lonely New Hampshire allows adults to make decissions about seat belts

Government wants to make folks out there believe they need legislation to “mother” them throughout life..

...and in “The land of the free and the home of the brave….”

Is anyone else disgusted?

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By Charlotta Beavers, December 8, 2006 at 2:53 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I think it is great that Pelosi wants to ban smoking on Capitol Hill! Why should they get to live by their “separate” rules? If smoking is good enough for the people, it should apply to our elected representatives, as well. And while we’re at it, if our current lack of health insurance is good enough for the people, that situation should apply to them too.

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By Louise, December 8, 2006 at 11:43 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

From the duh to the ridiculous!

Frankly my dears I don’t give a hoot who does or doesn’t smoke, as long as they don’t light up in my house.

Good grief Congress!

Seems to me about 25% of those folks worry more about perception, partying and power than they do about you and me and the millions of others who pay their salaries, and what’s that got to do with smoking anyway?

Nothing except as most know, when someone quits smoking because they are forced to ... figuring out how to keep smoking without being caught becomes the chief focus of the day, a real problem if you’re supposed to focus on important stuff like death, violence and poverty.

What if it’s the same 25%? Worse still what if it isn’t? Imagine 50% of the Congress not doing their job?

Come to think of it, that shouldn’t be to hard to imagine.

Come on Nancy, haven’t we got enough problems to deal with already? Like, oh I don’t know, maybe the horrific drug problem we have in our society? Now helping those folks quit ... that’s a real challenge, which is probably why it just isn’t as important as nailing those evil smokers.

Will this be sold as the Democrat version of bringing morality to Washington?

How about truth, justice and the American way (whatever that is) and listening to the folks who gave you the majority, did you hear them? End that immoral war!

END THAT IMMORAL WAR!

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By anonymous, December 8, 2006 at 8:02 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Not all minorities are disadvantaged.

Make ‘em quit altogether & test their pee, blood & prostate daily.

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By WCG, December 8, 2006 at 5:53 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I thought only kids smoked these days. Who else is dumb enough? Oh, yeah - politicians, apparently. Talk about being out of touch with America!

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