Smoking Bans Suspended

Since we last mentioned it, the court ruling in Pennsylvania has caused one town to suspend its smoking ban:

Mayor Chris Doherty on Thursday suspended enforcement of the city’s smoking ban ordinance in response to a major legal setback this week.

Not only that, but citations which had been issued were thrown out:

On Thursday, Magisterial Judge Robert G. Russell threw out citations issued April 24 to Chick’s Diner’s owners for violating the city’s ban, citing the Commonwealth Court’s ruling as precedent.

And other citations have been withdrawn, but being the government douchebags that they are, they’re going to ignore the law and not inform businesses of the change:

While Mr. Doherty informed the media about his decision to suspend enforcement of the ordinance, Public Safety Director Ray Hayes said there are no plans to send notices alerting all affected businesses about the change.

Not much of a surprise, and of course, they have designs on rewriting the legislation to allow their ban to exist, if they cannot get a favorable ruling on appeal.

“We created an environment and a buzz which the state legislators have picked up, and they have now put a statewide ban on the fast track,” Councilwoman Sherry Nealon Fanucci said. “We’re on the right side of the issue and I have no regrets at all.”

No, you’re not on the right side of the issue, because you’re violating private property rights.

Blow Some Smoke On Me

Holy Smoke Rings Batman! The statewide smoking ban is dead in Texas.

Proponents of a statewide smoking ban in restaurants, bars and work places acknowledged defeat on the issue Thursday, but vowed to pursue it again in the 2009 session.

Good riddance to bad rubbish is all that I can say about this. I am glad the members of the House showed this bill for what it was and weakened it in such a manner that it was ineffectual, but they’ll be back, just like all nightmares and monsters.

This from a press release quoted at Postcards from the Lege:

“Even as time expires this session for HB 9, Smoke-Free Texas already is planning to bring forward in 2009 another bill that would provide strong secondhand smoke protections for Texas workers by banning smoking in indoor public and work places.”

You busy bodies should let communities decide this issue for themselves.

Pray for Palliatives

Or don’t.

Sweetwater residents turned out at the downtown gazebo for a prayer rally, praying not for something but against alcohol coming to the restaurants in their town.

That’s right. There are people in Tennessee praying that a ballot measure to allow alcohol to be served in restaurants fails. And of course, it’s for the children:

“We want our children to grow up here without the influence of alcohol as much as possible,” says Barbara Raby.

And of course, the booze will bring social problems. All of this sound vaguely familiar.

Hmmmmm…..

Nah, couldn’t be.