2009 Senate Bill 469 (Prohibit allowing private workplace or restaurant smoking )

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Introduced by Sen. Tupac Hunter (D) on April 23, 2009, to prohibit a business owner, including the owner of a bar or restaurant, from choosing to allow smoking in his or her establishment. However, under the bill the ban would not go into effect unless it was approved in a referendum on the November, 2010 ballot.
- Referred to the Senate Government Operations and Reform Committee on April 23, 2009.

Most Recent Comments

1) Re: 2009 Senate Bill 469 (Prohibit allowing private workplace or restaurant smoking ) [by FreeSpeaker on April 28, 2009]

A referendum should not be necessary for the legislature to do the right thing. However, we now have an obstructionist Senate majority, which tends to block any progressive legislation. So in order for "right thing" bills like this to pass citizen referendums probably will be necessary. That is a sad commentary on what is supposed to be a representative democracy.

If the workplace smoking ban goes to a public referendum, chances are it would pass handily, according to current public opinion polling. If that is the only way we can get such legislation on the books, so be it. But we should remember the lesson about obstructionist legislators when it comes time to exercise our term limits power as voters.

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2) Re: 2009 Senate Bill 469 (Prohibit allowing private workplace or restaurant smoking ) [by gypsy on April 28, 2009]

Whether we vote on this in a referendum or not, this bill should pass. The public has a right to work or dine in air not filled with second hand smoke.

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3) Re: 2009 Senate Bill 469 (Prohibit allowing private workplace or restaurant smoking ) [by inform4 on April 28, 2009]

Oh yes, please give me more Big Brother government dictating what rights we can and cannot have. Please dictate to private businesses what they can and cannot allow. While they are at it they should just throw the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights into the shredder. Why not? They don't follow their oath of office anyway!

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