©
VIRGINIA Republicans are desperate to win back the suburban voters who lifted the party to prominence in the 1990s only to abandon the GOP for moderate Democrats in recent years.
Suburban voters have just one question for Republican lawmakers: What problem have you solved for us lately? That’s a real chin-scratcher, but Republicans know they had better come up with an answer pretty fast or they could lose next year’s gubernatorial election and forfeit their majority in the House of Delegates, the GOP’s final toehold in state government.
There’s a catch. Building roads and schools for fast-growing suburban communities takes a lot of money, and cash is in short supply now. There aren’t many problems that can be solved gratis, but there is one.
Proposals to ban smoking in restaurants and bars poll at 70 percent or better, and the enthusiasm is especially keen in the suburbs. The trouble for Republicans is this get-out-of-the-doghouse-for-free ticket comes with a side order of humble pie.
For years, House GOP leaders have shepherded every smoking ban bill into a six-person subcommittee stacked with tobacco-friendly lawmakers and conservatives opposed to any restriction on individual liberties. The panel methodically kills the bills without allowing a vote before the full General Laws Committee.
“I might as well have been talking to the trash can last year,” lamented Sen. Ralph Northam of Norfolk, whose smoking ban bill passed the Senate only to be snuffed out by the House subcommittee.
The chairman of the General Laws Committee at the time was Del. Terrie Suit, a Virginia Beach Republican who was previously sympathetic to smoking bans but changed her position after Speaker Bill Howell handed her the plum assignment.
With Suit’s retirement, there’s a new boss in General Laws, and health advocacy groups are feeling bullish about the 2009 legislative session.
Del. Chris Jones of Suffolk was named chairman last month, and there’s no sign that he’s been administered a blood oath. “I’m in favor of further restrictions on smoking in public, and there will be a full and fair hearing,” Jones said last week in an interview.
A growing number of GOP lawmakers are eager to end the spectacle of their leaders’ strong-arming popular bills into oblivion. And they view smoking bans as a health issue, not a libertarian litmus test.
Other sacred cows have already been abandoned to suburban realities, including Republicans’ longtime opposition to photo-enforcement of red-light runners. Del. John Cosgrove, the sponsor of the red-light law and a member of the General Laws committee, says the smoking ban lacks the same public safety urgency. But the Chesapeake Republican said he and other suburban lawmakers are open to compromise on smoking restrictions.
“Probably the majority of my constituents don’t want smoking in restaurants,” he said, “but at the same time they don’t like the government imposing a total ban on anything.”
Balancing those competing demands will be tricky, but 2009 may be the year Republicans give it a try. If they’re looking for a way to put the shine back in their problem-solving credentials, this may be their best shot.
Christina Nuckols is an editorial writer for The Virginian-Pilot. Call her at (804) 697-1562 or write her at christina.nuckols@pilotonline.com.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Come on, Ralen!
Even Philip Morris USA accepts the findings of the dangers of second hand smoke. Of course, R. J. Reynolds chooses to continue to poison folks and fatten their huge vat of death money. Read, "U.S. Details Dangers of Second Hand Smoking." Only a fool would believe inhaling noxious smoke into their bodies would not adversely affect them!
Comment
There is no definitive proof yet published that proves second hand smoke causes anything other than irritation to some. If so, post your references. Having said that, it is a vile habit and should not be indulged in public places where people have no clear choice or opportunity to avoid breathing second hand smoke. That does not cover restaurants or bars where the simplest and mature solution is not to patronize those establishments that allow smoking if it bothers you. Having lived in Hampton Roads for over 10 years my family and I have no problem avoiding restaurants or bars that allow smokers; rather easy to do if you put your mind to it and certainly more proactive than whining and complaining. Had a wonderful lunch today at a smoke free restaurant in Chesapeake. But of course some people just like complaining and apparently feel they are forced to patronize restaurants that allow smoking.
Bring it on, but be prepared.
I support a smoking ban in Virginia, but when it comes the state had better be ready for some serious opposition, including civil disobedience. In Winchester, where I live, non-smokers are in the minority, and most of the local drinking establishments are controlled by patrons and bartenders who smoke. In some places if you belly up to the bar without plunking down a pack of Marlboro Lights on the counter it's difficult to get served. I think if you map the state according to where people stand on a smoking ban you'll find it very similar to the Obama-McCain breakdown on Election Day. But in the case of a smoking ban the smokers' territorial advantage becomes much more significant. We're not talking about whether we send a Republican or Democrat to Washington -- we're talking about thousands of bars and restaurants across the state and the tens of thousands of people who frequent them. Outside of Virginia's urban centers and big college towns the ban will be largely ignored without a determined, and therefore costly, effort to police it.
RE: smokers
"katet43483 on Tue, 11/25/2008 at 1:33 pm.
I just don't see why it's so hard to get smokers to realize their habit adversely affects those around them, in many ways."
Katet, it's called an addiction. Every smoker I know is fully aware of the harm it does. Like any addiction it's hard to quit, and from what I've read and been told it's harder to quit smoking than most any other drug.
You will never get a smoker to quit smoking by calling them names. If you honestly want to help you need to be more understand and supportive.
Oh the horror.....
You mean someone actually smoked at a NObama rally? What in the world are we coming to when something like that happens. I am sure that there is more to the story but someone will not admit that it was open air, they weren't anywhere close to the children and were probably all by themselves bothering no one. However the smoking nazi extremist will make an issue of it anyway. By the way, I am sure that someones bad breath from a PETA tofu diet is much more offensive.
ptownbc
Just out of curiosity, could you kindly define your definition of intellectual?
Smokers
I just don't see why it's so hard to get smokers to realize their habit adversely affects those around them, in many ways. Certainly the most important is the cancer causing second-hand smoke. At a recent Obama rally in Va. Beach filled with thousands of people, two men lit up cigarettes and fouled the air for all those nearby, which included many children. How selfish. Many people have asthma and other conditions which are exacerbated by smoke. I don't care if one wishes to smoke, just do it in your own home and properly discard the butts.Oh yeah, and refrain from damaging your children's lungs and hearts by the smoke if you are a parent.
WOW!
One would think that with all these intellectuals posting that we should have a ban that these folks would be able to read a sign and STAY OUT of a restaurant which allows smoking. One would think that restaurant owners would be able to make a decision like this to better its business prospects. You guys are so smart you even know what is best for me? That is impressive! By the way, I am not a smoker. I think it is a disgusting habit, not unlike the habit many of you have of telling a human being what they should or should not do to THEMSELVES. We all have mothers, we don't need another one. Don't we have a ban on ALL DRUGS? How's that battle working out?
It seems....
It seems the writer and others only use emotion to try to make others look bad instead of applying law of owners rights. Inferiority complex I believe. What the writer and others will not explain is WHY they cannot frequent bars or restaurants that don't allow smoking and leave the others alone. Why? Because they probably don't go to bars and have no stake in the matter except to feel good about telling others what to do.
Justanotheruser
Thanks for the good question. Actually, banning smoking in restaurants will most likely add to the litter problem because folks will carelessly toss cigs on the ground.However, banning smoking in restaurants, just makes sense. All studies show sales increase after an initial slight dip. Personally, when I smoked 30 yrs. ago, society was beginning its awareness of the health dangers of second-hand smoke. I recall the self awareness and embarrassment of smoking around others and it helped me give it up. It's hard to quit this nasty habit but many smokers do so, with some encouragement. I view making it more difficult to light up, a way of assisting. It also protects patrons and workers.