Lawmakers pass ban on smoking in bars
11:34 AM PDT on Saturday, June 16, 2007
Associated Press
SALEM, Ore. -- Waitresses, bus boys, musicians and others who labor in smoky haunts came closer yesterday to breathing the same clean air as Oregonians working in offices and stores.
The Oregon House approved a bill to ban smoking in bars, taverns and bingo halls beginning in 2009. Those venues were exempted when Oregon banned workplace smoking in 1981.
Anti-smoking groups say more than 35-thousand Oregonians work in such places. The new measure would leave only cigar bars and smoke shops exempt. Hotels could keep up to 25 percent of their rooms for smokers.
The smoking of noncommercial tobacco for Native American ceremonies would continue to be protected under federal law, and tribal casinos would not be covered.
The bill goes back to the Senate for approval of amendments. Governor Kulongoski is expected to sign it. Supporters said 800 Oregonians a year die as a result of second-hand smoke.
11:34 AM PDT on Saturday, June 16, 2007
Associated Press
SALEM, Ore. -- Waitresses, bus boys, musicians and others who labor in smoky haunts came closer yesterday to breathing the same clean air as Oregonians working in offices and stores.
The Oregon House approved a bill to ban smoking in bars, taverns and bingo halls beginning in 2009. Those venues were exempted when Oregon banned workplace smoking in 1981.
Anti-smoking groups say more than 35-thousand Oregonians work in such places. The new measure would leave only cigar bars and smoke shops exempt. Hotels could keep up to 25 percent of their rooms for smokers.
The smoking of noncommercial tobacco for Native American ceremonies would continue to be protected under federal law, and tribal casinos would not be covered.
The bill goes back to the Senate for approval of amendments. Governor Kulongoski is expected to sign it. Supporters said 800 Oregonians a year die as a result of second-hand smoke.
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Re: FINALLY!!!
Sun, June 17, 2007 - 2:17 PMyeah no kidding. the tobacco industry testified to the legislature that the state would lose all kinds of money if they passed this law (which is total b.s. - that has not happened anywhere). so the legislature fell for the scare tactic and passed the law, but delayed the date bars would be required to be smokefree.
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