Smokers' Rights Calendar

Hypocrisy

Smoke ban PM lights up on plane

European Parliament Abandons Smoking Ban

And guess who’s got the best (only?) Club in town that allows smoking? Will it be the Democrats or the Republicans? Guess you’ll have to find out in Boehner's Favorite Smoke-Filled Room.

Legislators should follow the law too -- The (Sevierville) Mountain Press, although written by a rather hysterical and uninformed antismoker, it still highlights the hypocrisy of legislators who pass smoking bans.

United Kingdom

And so now the world is their Woodbine (The Daily Mail, 7:24 PM, 02nd July 2008) -- A good public expose on the "reliability" of antismoking scientists! Quite good. *wink*

Just in, attempted murder in the House of Commons bar! -- A good one for the hypocrisy files. The only bar in the UK to still allow smoking is...drumroll please...in the House of Commons! See a video of Nick Hogan, pub landlord, lighting up in the House of Commons bar. The gov't tried to bankrupt him for allowing people to smoke in his own bar, but it's cool for him to smoke in the bar of the very lawmakers who passed the prohibition!

Check out what the House of Lords has to say about the UK smoking ban, from the Select Committee on Economic Affairs Fifth Report (CHAPTER 5: Risk Management—Two Cases):

76. The recently introduced bill to ban smoking in public places illustrates a number of worrying features connected with the formulation and promotion of legislation[49]. The stated objective of the bill was to ban smoking at work and in enclosed public places, because passive smoking imposes a significant health risk on workers and others exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS).

77. In order to evaluate the operation of risk policy in this area, we considered a range of evidence, much of which cast doubt on the stated rationale of the legislation.

Beijing's Olympic smoking ban stubbed out amid backlash

Italy

Tangenti in ospedale, Sirchia
condannato a 3 anni di carcere (In English, Italian Antismoking Hero Gets Three Years!)

SOUTH CAROLINA

OHIO

***VOTE!!!*** See where your representatives stand on the bill to "amend" the smoking ban and restore business rights and the economy:

Ban DeBunker's LowDown for the Senate and Congress on Senate Bill, S.B. 346 for Ohio

Commission Rejects Health Department Request For Funds, WCJB TV20, Local News, June 20, 2008)

Anti-smoking fund in ashes (The Enquirer, Cincinnati dot com, Monday, April 14, 2008)

WebMistress: I really like this particular article. There are several comment-worthy notes.

Ohio lawmakers want to close down anti-smoking agency (Dispatch Politics, Tuesday, April 29, 2008 1:18 PM )

Lawmakers to abolish Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation (Medical and science News, April 29, 2008 20:36PM)

Cleveland Plain Dealer: Ohio Anti-Tobacco Group Nearly Alone in Money Battle (Ohio Tobacco Research & Evaluation Center, 4/22/2008)

Ohio's "Smoke Free" Efforts Prove Costly by Gerry Ricciutti (WKBN 27 First News Youngstown Ohio, FOX 17 62)

Tobacco money: State bill would end agency on smoking (Toledo Blade, Wednesday, April 30, 2008)

Sen. Bill Seitz (R., Cincinnati), author of a similar Senate bill, said the action is a response to a feeling among some that the foundation has become "a rogue agency."

"It's not the remedy I would have proposed," he said as he stood outside a Statehouse entrance smoking a cigarette. "I would have said we should vote to eliminate the statewide smoking ban. That's the nuclear option."

Hamilton Co. Spends $42,000 To Get $200 In Smoking Fines: Ohio Has Collected Only $30,000 Statewide (WLWT, April 30, 2008)

AUDIO Smoking Ban Costs Akron (Akron News Now, April 30, 2008)

Ohio House passes bill to raid state's anti-tobacco fund: Proposal to redirect $230M to stimulus package expected to clear Senate (Toledo Blade - Ohio News, Thursday, May 1, 2008), quote (emphasis added):

"Hopefully, this body will recognize that punishment of a renegade state agency should take a back seat to doing what is in the best interest of the citizens of this great state," said Mike Renner, the foundation's executive director.

NEVADA

Nevada Taverns Refuse to Obey Nevada Smoking ban (Las Vegas Sun: NEWSALERT, Saturday, June 21, 2008)

New ad campaign seeks to boost lagging Vegas tourism since smoking ban took effect Quote at end of article:

I think the end is near for the self-serving, Nicoderm funded, smoking ban era......if it doesn't bankrupt us all first.

FLORIDA

Smoke-free leader lets them light up: North Miami long ago scrapped a ban much like the one enacted in Sarasota (The Herald Tribue, May 21, 2008) Quote (emphasis added):

North Miami ended its prohibition on hiring smokers five years ago because the city desperately needed police officers, and applicants were turned off by the anti-smoking rule.

The health insurance savings that inspired the policy had also eroded, said North Miami spokeswoman Pam Solomon.

"It was really hampering our recruitment process and it no longer made a difference on our insurance," Solomon said. "Our insurance company said obesity was a bigger issue than smoking."

MAINE

ALABAMA

Ala. smoking ban bill dies without being voted on (AL dot com newsflash, 5/20/2008)

TENNESSEE

Despite ban, Tennessee Rep. Joe McCord admits smoking in his office ( Channel 8, Volunteer TV, 12:54 PM May 7, 2008) Not too unusual. Many bans are from hypocritical politicians, e.g. European Parliament Abandons Smoking Ban despite the fact that the EU has been one of the biggest pushers of smoking bans throughout Europe! Or, consider Manitoba NDP under fire for ignoring smoking ban...oops on Canadian politicians! And guess who’s got the best (only?) Club in town that allows smoking? Will it be the Democrats or the Republicans? Guess you’ll have to find out in Boehner's Favorite Smoke-Filled Room. Are voters really stupid enough to believe that hypocrites writing legal policies are good for a nation?

OREGON

IOWA

And this comes on the heels of the Iowa smoking ban? It's a setup to follow Ohio. Without antitobacco money, enforcement will be too expensive.

Iowa bar owners preparing for legal fight against Iowa smoking ban-- Quad-City Times, Saturday, April 19, 2008.

Smoking ban brings out candidates (DesMoines Register, June 2, 2008) Quote:

Bukta said she understands why bar and some restaurant owners are upset, saying, "If I did hurt any business, I'm terribly sorry."

PENNSYLVANIA

Harrisburg bureau

HARRISBURG, Tuesday, April 29 -- Lawmakers postponed a decision today on a plan to ban or limit public smoking in Pennsylvania.
A House-Senate conference committee had been scheduled to meet this morning to seek a compromise on different bills that cleared the chambers last year,

but committee Chairman Stewart Greenleaf issued a brief statement saying the meeting will be delayed "for a short period."

"I look forward to a full public discussion in the very near future on Pennsylvania's smoke-free legislation," Greenleaf added.

This marks the second time the committee has postponed a decision on the controversial issue.

Rep. Ron Miller, R-York, authored the plan that has recently received the most attention, but anti-smoking groups have criticized it as too weak.

Under his plan, businesses and clubs that want to allow smoking would have to prominently post signs indicating they are smoking places and meet air-testing

requirements. Children would not be allowed inside.

His plan would ban smoking in all indoor places that don't meet the testing mandate or don't choose to post signs declaring that smoking is permitted. The bills

that cleared the House and Senate last year differed on which establishments should be exempt from a ban.

The six-member conference committee needs four votes to approve a bill. Both chambers would then have to ratify it on a yes-no vote before it could be sent to

Gov. Ed Rendell for his signature.

Rendell has advocated a tough ban.

PA: Allegheny County Smoking Ban Hearing Robert Gehrmann, Pennsylvania State Coordinator, The Smoker's Club, Inc. WebMistress: I actually met this man at a Smokers Club meeting in Charlotte, NC!

Pete Robinson: German ban goes up in smoke (The Publican, 29 April, 2008_

Demonstration against smoking bans in Berlin

Hackers attack pro-choice websites (Thursday, 10 April 2008, Independence: The website of the UK Independence Party) -- The bad news is that the pro-freedom webistes were re-directed to an NHS antismoking website. The good news is that the freedom-lovers had their websites back in working order in record time and the incident, showing the desperation of antismokers, has been reported by a reliable press. The attack was quite high-level and, hopefully, the parties responsible will be caught and face the music.

A smoker's guide to Europe and beyond (part one) (Monday April 7, 2008) -- Words from the rockin' world of Joe Jackson!

Roll up for the newest travel trend: smoking tourism (Monday April 7 2008) -- In a post-ban market, businesses that once held the antismoking niche lose many of their customers to businesses that have since been forced to become antismoking. Now, there's a HUGE void in the smoker-friendly niche--and some companies and places for tourism--want to cash-in.

Under the heading Signs of Life at Big Tobacco, one tobacco company is actually starting to get into the fight. For the ages, BT has shied away from lobbying or doing anything to combat the fraudulent science behind smoking bans or the inevitable slide into the Nanny State--well, except for getting the EPA report thrown out by a federal judge. Now, one company is going for the throat and being heard, especially now that the ban has caused so much damage. Get a loada this: Imperial Tobacco slams tobacco display plan, quote:

Healy urged the government to ensure any future legislation in the tobacco category was "evidence based" but added this was not always the case, citing a House of Lords' report on risk management which had criticised the government's introduction of the smoking ban in England and Wales.

Norfolk council reverses course restaurant smoking ban (Associated Press, March 26, 2008). Quote: "NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk will not be the first Virginia city to ban smoking in restaurants. The Norfolk City Council reversed course Tuesday, rescinding an ordinance passed last fall that would have banned smoking in city restaurants beginning Monday. The city council voted 5-2 to repeal the ordinance, which passed 7-1 in October. Council members had second thoughts largely because they were concerned that restaurants would lose business to surrounding cities. The ban had been set to go into effect next week."

Smoke ban rebel Hamish Howitt (Morning Advertiser, 26/03/2008). From the article (emphasis added):

Charlevoix County board repeals workplace smoke ban (Petosky News-Review, Tuesday, March 4, 2008, 9:46 AM EST)

Bartender's charges go up in smoke: Case dismissed for woman who allegedly let bar patron light up (Wednesday, March 19, 2008, pjstar.com) -- "Bureau County State's Attorney Pat Herrmann said after Karla Carrington's brief court hearing that once he reviewed the Smoke-Free Illinois Act, which banned indoor smoking in public places beginning this year, he found no authority to file a formal charge....But the challenge to the state's smoking ban that was part of Carrington's case - including questions of constitutionality and the potential to overturn the law through a strangely worded clause - will continue."

Fayette County to not enforce smoking ban (3/17/08 @ 1:39:03 pm, WJBD Local News Story) -- "Fayette County State's Attorney Steven Friedel has asked law enforcement in the county not to issue smoking citations to offenders in bars and private clubs. Friedel is calling the 'Smoke Free Illinois' law a horrendous piece of legislation that is overbroad, poorly drafted and is difficult at best and impossible at worst to enforce."

Buddhadeb defies smoking ban (The Hindu National, Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008) -- "Kolkata: Defying the blanket ban on smoking at the State Secretariat, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Tuesday made it clear that he would continue to puff inside his office."

Michigan Smoking Ban Dies for Lack of Vote...and Democrats can do nothing but whine about it (March 5, 2008)-- Politicians are learing that this is poison to their political power. Nobody wants to even VOTE on these things anymore. If they vote for a ban, their economy tanks and they risk losing their next election. (That's happened to other politicians who pushed bans.) If they vote against it, antismokers use junk science to claim that they're endangering lives. Frankly, the media has lost credibility--and newspaper circulation has declined--because journalists (I use the term loosely) insist on publishing any old trash--like how much constituents want smoking bans. If people wanted smoking bans, then that's what the free market would have provided long ago. If there was ever a time to feel sorry for politicians, now is it.

GVSU not following county smoking ban (Michigan, Chronicle News Service, January 16, 2008 20:51PM)

For the record, others are finding loopholes--or simply disobeying bans. For example, savvy Britons have figured out that you can just Smoke Upstairs, among other things.

Legal legend Dickie Scruggs pleads guilty in bribery

Quote: Scruggs earned millions from asbestos litigation. But it was his assault on Big Tobacco in the 1990s that made him famous. Scruggs orchestrated one of the largest civil settlements in American history, winning nearly $250 billion from the industry. The fees awarded to the plaintiffs' lawyers came to more than $13 billion. Scruggs' share of the pot was at the very least in the hundreds of millions.

So, THAT'S where our tobacco money went! By the way, doesn't that big ol' Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) violate the Compact Clause in our Constitution? I could be wrong, but I don't think states are allowed to enter a legal and binding agreement with corporations--unless they hire Scruggs to argue the case for them, right? Sheesh.

House Subcommittee Rejects Anti-Smoking Bill (Virginia), "A House of Delegates subcommittee unanimously killed legislation yesterday to ban smoking in restaurants and most other indoor public places in Virginia. The action by the general laws subcommittee came as no surprise. The panel has rejected anti-smoking bills in the past. The move does not bode well for a package of anti-smoking bills passed by the Senate this week. Those measures will go to the same subcommittee when they reach the House." -- Associated Press, washingtonpost (Friday, February 8, 2008; Page B05)

House panel rejects last batch of Va. anti-smoking bills

Proposed statewide smoking ban snuffed out, at least for now (March 13, 2008, postcresent dot com, Appleton, WI)

Going up in smoke?, "Berlin may have introduced a smoking ban at the beginning of January, but one month on, many cafés and bars had begun handing out the ashtrays again." (The Economist, March, 2008). Also, German Resistance Proves Tough against Smoking Ban (Cox News Service, Monday, March 10, 2008). And...Bavarian Politicans Want to Relax Smoking Ban (Spiegel Online, March 06, 2008), which begins, "The leaders of Bavaria's ruling party, the Christian Social Union, want to relax the state's smoking ban -- and very quickly. Many of the party's politicians blame the ban for the CSU's poor showing in recent local elections."

House flips, weakens smoking ban (March 13, 2008, desmoinesregister.com) Includes VOTING record!!! Also, notice how ridiculous the exceptions and exemptions are getting. Ridiculous.

Tuesday February 19th, the DTV association of German tobacconists bestowing its Tobacco Innovation Award on FORCES Germany. (Report in English)

Birmingham Mail readers call for an end to pub smoking ban by Emma Cullwick, Birmingham Mail (Nov 27 2007)

See many more failed bans at Another Ban Failed. Honestly, after all the money poured into Tobacco Control and drug companies (via smoking cessation products), these buffoons can't do anything better than promote amoking bans that are destined to fail, don't improve public health, and cause all sorts of economic and social damage. Geez, after all the politicians who've lost their posts because they pushed smoking bans...you'd think they'd learn, wouldn't you?

Forces International has lodged an official complaint against the Surgeon General report on passive smoking. The complaint has been filed with Office of Research Integrity (ORI) of the United States in Washington, DC, and forwarded to the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services. FORCES, Inc. is a non-partisan, Educational organization which has been granted the 501(c)(3) non profit designation by the United States Internal Revenue Service.

A letter from a a businessman in Ohio calls for a congressional hearing to investigate and scrutinize antismoking studies of passive smoking. To quote,

...these "reports" and "studies" can be scrutinized by experts NOT PAID by the RWJ Foundation, ACS, AHA, etc.

From the Mastermind category, Special Subject, "Nonsmokers Getting It", we have Saying No to the Nanny State from the Intellectual Conservative (March 13, 2008). Nonsmokers finally figuring out that secondhand smoke never was all that bad but the Nanny State is coming after their freedoms now--and coming after their children. (Not much of a surprise. Nobody had problems with turning children against their parents over smoking.) Yet, there really are nonsmokers who have figured out that the whole health-scam based Nanny State started with antismoking!

SMINTAIR (Smokers' International Airways) is going the distance for us! What a smart idea! If only all commercial airlines could figure out that smoke-free travel could be billed as "Family Friendly" and smoking permitted travel could be billed as "Business Class"! Well, maybe the idea will be more contagious than SARS on airplanes and we can all get on the flight of our choice.

Okay, not all nonsmokers are particularly bright. See the new Playmobil Security Check Point and the often comical comments that follow. Alas, many blame a mythical Tobacco Lobby that cigarette lighters are allowed on planes but not water bottles--despite the fact the the Tobacco Companies have not been allowed to lobby ever since the Master Settlement Agreement. Now, they whine that they're being treated like common criminals--just like they've been treating people who smoke. My sympathy just ran out. *wink*

Brit John Nuttall, who has been denied surgery on his extremely painful broken ankle because he smokes, has been contacted by FORCES International with an offer to pay for the surgery by a private physician. (He's currently taking morphine every day for the pain of the grinding bones.) He is deciding on whether or not to accept the offer because he believes that the NHS should take responsibility after all the years he's been paying into it. Whatever he chooses, the offer stands and we all wish him the best!

Pfizer anti-smoking drug under FDA safety review (Reuters UK, Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:36pm GMT). Well, it's high time.

Glaxo Smith Kline Shame (31 Jan 2007)

One Thousand Lives A Month (CBS News, Feb. 17, 2008)

Bayer and HIV Tainted Blood -- MSNBC News

FDA seeks more information from Merck for cholesterol drug

Cordaptive combines an extended-release form of the B vitamin niacin with a chemical to inhibit a sometimes-intolerable niacin side effect called flushing — redness, burning and tingling of the face.

Niacin has been used to control cholesterol for decades, and an extended-release version called Niaspan, made by Abbott Labs, has been on sale for years.

During their five-week training class, Ahari claims that instructors teach sales tactics, including how to exceed spending limits for important clients, being generous with free samples to leverage sales, using friendships and personal gifts to foster a "quid pro quo" relationship, and how to exploit sexual tension.


"The nature of this business is gift-giving," says Ahari. He claims that he's heard stories about sales reps helping to pay the cost of a doctor's swimming pool and another doctor who was routinely taken to a nightclub where a hostess was paid to keep him company.

...
According to Ahari, the benefits could be lucrative for sales reps, who tended to earn more than researchers.

What goes around comes around. After the 1993 EPA report that manipulated data and facts to issue a faulty warning against SHS/ETS, it's coming back around to haunt the EPA. States Sue EPA Over Global Warming (AOL, 2008-04-02). Better yet, EPA scientists complain about political pressure (Fox News, Wednesday, April 23, 2008) and Survey: Half of EPA Scientists Complain of Political Interference, Waxman to Investigate (TPM muckraker, April 23, 2008, 12:40PM)

News from TSA: New Policies for Lighters, Electronics, and Breast Milk: In an effort to concentrate resources on detecting explosive threats, TSA will no longer ban common lighters in carry-on luggage as of August 4, 2007. Torch lighters remain banned in carry-ons. I don't recall hearing this publicized in the US media. Funny that. *Big Grin* Actually, I found this little tidbit on the blog of an antismoker who was lamenting the waning of antismoking in the US and around the world. However, on one note, I agree with the antismoker: Bottles of nonflamable water are still absurdly banned from flights! Well, no more snubs from airport security about the Bic in your pocket with your smokes. Check the Smoker Friendly list to help make your travel plans as comfortable as possible.

Conference: Rumblings on the Interior -- A rather serious romur has been circulating about a conference with some of the BIG pro-freedom groups. This is just in time for the TSA getting a grip about the importance of accomodating people who smoke. Gee, maybe if some of the airlines decide to start being a little more friendly, they'll be getting lotsa business from us very soon! Stay tuned for updates!