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Advocates of a ban on smoking in all Virginia restaurants were delighted to see a new and seemingly friendly face this year at the helm of a legislative committee that knocked the wind out of their public health campaign last year.
Del. Terrie Suit broke with most members of her party in April 2007 when the Virginia Beach Republican supported a statewide ban proposed by Gov. Tim Kaine.
The measure failed, but this year Suit has the opportunity to play a crucial role in the debate as the new chairwoman of the House General Laws Committee.
Unfortunately, the rise to power has clouded Suit's judgment. Now she opposes the smoking ban she backed last year, a position that puts her at odds with her constituents, the municipal leaders in the cities she represents and even the restaurant associations.
Suit says she now believes enough restaurants have gone smoke-free that government regulation is no longer necessary.
That's nonsense, and none other than the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association says so. Local business owners insist the only way to protect the health of their customers and their employees is to have a consistent policy for all eating establishments.
Without Suit's aid, it will be difficult to pass a statewide smoking ban or one requested by Hampton Roads localities that would cover only our region.
Last year's proposed smoking ban jogged through the state Senate only to be snuffed out by a six-member subcommittee of General Laws. The chairman at the time refused to order a hearing by the full committee.
Suit has sent four smoking ban measures to the same subcommittee, which includes Del. John Cosgrove of Chesapeake and is led by Del. Tom Gear of Hampton, both strong opponents of a ban.
Suit says she won't try to revive the measure if it dies in the subcommittee again, a near certainty.
She's in a ticklish spot, caught between what's politically popular at home and what's politically necessary in Richmond. Suit is beholden to Speaker Bill Howell, an opponent of the statewide ban, for her new leadership post, and it will be tough to defy him. She insists he has applied no pressure on her to change her position.
Suit's greatest obligation is to her constituents, who want a smoking ban. At a minimum, she should use her post so the ban gets aired before the full committee and the votes are recorded.
Suit is in a position to make that happen. She should take this opportunity to use her gavel for a good cause.
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Just a bump in the road for the inevitable
Smoking should be regulated in all public places, public or private. Smokers remain free to smoke whenever and wherever they want in their home, in their auto, or outside. It is simply common sense, good manners, and a wise health decision for all to not allow smoking where people work or engage in public interaction. Office buildings, shopping malls, movie theaters, airplanes, etc, etc all once allowed smoking. Society at large no longer wishes to have to deal with the issue of smoke in restaurants from the standpoint of the health of the employees and from the standpoint of the patrons. No one should have to plan a restaurant visit and have to worry about the danger and odor of second hand smoke. The momentum continues to build toward no smoking in restaurants. One day Virginia will see the light.
Smoking Ban
Any and ALL restaurants, bowling alleys, and such have the power to decide for themselves whether to ban smoking in their establishments without government telling them to do so. Patrons have the option to have their meals in non-smoking establishments. That's what I do.
It's funny that The Editorial Board of this paper says that Delegate Terri Suit has put herself in "a position that puts her at odds with her constituents". It's funny that the board didn't care that most of Virginia Beach was at odds with HB3202 and the creation of the HRTA. Delegate Suit voted for that as well.
Restraint of Trade?
So, now the restaurant association wants a smoking ban too? We should always smell a rat when a trade organization seeks to have its members regulated. So why are they on board?
As things stand now, more restaurants voluntarily go smoke free every day, which is a good thing, and probably many patrons are drawn by that decision. But when they take that choice, they are, at the same time, losing a few customers to other eateries who take the other choice. What to do then to prevent those few from leaving? Why, force their competitors to make the same choice by asking for a regulation, of course.
Left to itself, the vast majority of restaurants will be smoke free soon due to market forces, but a small number will cater to smokers. Everyone will have a choice available to them that suits their tastes. I will eat a the smoke free places, others can do as they please. That is how it should be.