Kaine will try for restaurant smoking ban again

By: By Olympia Meola Media General News Service | GoDanRiver.com
Published: January 06, 2009

State lawmakers are taking another crack at banning smoking in restaurants, hoping this year’s General Assembly will be friendlier than in the past.

In Arlington County today, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is expected to propose a statewide restaurant smoking ban as part of his 2009 legislative agenda.

Monday, Del. David L. Englin, D-Alexandria, filed legislation that would prohibit smoking in all indoor restaurants and bar and lounge areas. A violation would carry a $25 civil penalty.

“Especially in today’s economy, it is wrong to force restaurant workers to choose between their jobs or breathing cancer-causing secondhand smoke,“ Englin said.

Efforts to curtail smoking are becoming a perennial issue at the assembly, though the attempts repeatedly have been rebuffed by some members of the House of Delegates. This will be at least the third year in which Kaine has sought restrictions.

Advocates say it’s a public health issue the government needs to address. Some restaurant industry representatives say businesses know what’s best for them. They say that if customers don’t want to frequent restaurants that allow smoking, that will force the eateries to change their policies.

Kaine will seek smoking restrictions as he urges lawmakers to double the cigarette tax to 60 cents per pack.

Among the factors giving Englin hope for this upcoming session is that the House General Laws Committee, where smoking bills have perished, will have a new chairman. Del. S. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, the incoming committee chairman, could not be reached for comment.

Gordon Hickey, spokesman for Kaine, said the governor will address a piece of his legislative agenda this afternoon but would not confirm specifics.

Other lawmakers are expected to introduce smoking-ban legislation, Englin said, including attempts at regional bans. It’s important to many Northern Virginians, he said, because of its proximity to Washington, which prohibits smoking in restaurants.

“What we don’t want is to become the region’s ashtray,“ he said.