Virginia now has a smoking ban effective December 1, 2009, thanks to Speaker of the House Howell and Gov. Kaine, with funding by Big Pharma through ACS, ALA & AHA.

We still we be allowed to smoke outside (how nice of them) and in whatever restaurants' choose to spend the money for a ventilation system and a separate room.  All this in a recession, if not a depression.  The restaurant business which had been doing well since smokers from Maryland and the District  came to Virginia to eat and smoke, will be staying at home.  Kaine won't be here to take any responsibility for  adding to the recession since he has been chosen to head up the DNC.

However, they will be back next year to tighten the ban have no doubt about it. 

Here is how the House and Senate voted.

House

YEAS--Albo, Alexander, Amundson, Armstrong, Barlow, Bell, Bouchard, Bowling, Brink, Bulova, Caputo, Carrico, Cosgrove, Cox, Crockett-Stark, Dance, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Englin, Hamilton, Hargrove, Herring, Howell, A.T., Hull, Iaquinto, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, Knight, Landes, Lingamfelter, Marsden, Marshall, R.G., Mathieson, May, McClellan, Melvin, Miller, J.H., Miller, P.J., Morgan, Morrissey, Nichols, Oder, Orrock, Phillips, Plum, Poisson, Purkey, Rust, Scott, J.M., Shannon, Spruill, Tata, Toscano, Tyler, Valentine, Vanderhye, Ward, Watts, Mr. Speaker--60.

NAYS--Abbitt, Athey, Byron, Cline, Cole, Fralin, Frederick, Gear, Gilbert, Griffith, Hall, Hogan, Ingram, Janis, Kilgore, Lewis, Lohr, Loupassi, Marshall, D.W., Massie, McQuinn, Merricks, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, Peace, Pogge, Poindexter, Pollard, Putney, Saxman, Scott, E.T., Sherwood, Shuler, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Wright--37.

ABSTENTIONS--0.

NOT VOTING--BaCote, Hugo, Sickles--3.

Senate
(partial list)

VOTING YES

Republicans (7)

Blevins, Chesapeake; Norment, James City; Quayle, Suffolk; Stolle, Virginia Beach; Stuart, Westmoreland; Vogel, Winchester; Wagner, Virginia Beach.

Democrats (20)

Barker, Fairfax County; Colgan, Prince William; Deeds, Bath; Edwards, Roanoke; Herring, Loudoun; Houck, Spotsylvania; Howell, Fairfax County; Locke, Hampton; Lucas, Portsmouth; Marsh, Richmond; McEachin, Henrico; Miller, J.C., Newport News; Miller, Y.B., Norfolk; Northam, Norfolk; Petersen, Fairfax County; Puckett, Russell; Puller, Fairfax County; Saslaw, Fairfax County; Ticer, Alexandria; Whipple, Arlington.

VOTING NO

Republicans (12)

Cuccinelli, Fairfax County; Hanger, Augusta; Hurt, Pittsylvania; Martin, Chesterfield; McDougle, Hanover; Newman, Lynchburg; Obenshain, Harrisonburg; Ruff, Mecklenburg; Smith, Botetourt; Stosch, Henrico; Wampler, Bristol; Watkins, Powhatan.

Democrats (1)

ACTION ALERT

The anti's follow the same playbook county by county, state by state.  The goal is to make it impossible to smoke, they want you to purchase one of the many nicotine products; patches, gum, lozenge, inhaler and pills, like Chantix, which has caused heart attacks in users.  They don't care about you.  The Robert Woods Johnson Foundation spent $99 million dollars from 1992 through 2002, and have continued for the last six years to launder money through the America Cancer Society, Heart and Lung Associations to lobby for smoking bans nationally and internationally spending hundred of millions more.  Why?  The usual reason, corporate GREED.  They anticipate sales of 46 Billion dollars globally on their deadly products!

They are joined by Glaxo, Wellcome, Norvartis, Consumer Health, Pharmacia & Upjohn, all manufacturers of smoking cessation devices.

Freedom Works has set up a letter for you, all you have to do is fill in your name and address.  Please go there now and let the Virginia legislature know that you don't support a an increased tax on cigarettes in Virginia.  Nothing is inevitable, one person can make a difference.  This is your opportunity to participate in your future because no one is going to do it for you!

FREEDOM WORKS

If this isn't your issue, then look at what Big Pharma has in store for you, they want to control you behavior which includes but is not limited to food, fat and liquor.  KNOW THE ENEMY and stop donating to Cancer, Heart and Lung because they are the culprits who agreed to carry Big Pharma's campaign, instead of finding a cure. 

Over a billion dollars has been spent on lobbyist to create smoking bans in the U.S.A. which could have been spent funding real research, instead of fabricated junk science against 45 million smokers.

The Virginia Smokers Alliance, has enlisted the help of Epitome to analysis the 2006 Surgeon General's Report “The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke” which has been used as a basis for smoking bans across the United States.

The SG's report has been controversial and hotly debated by scientist all over the world. Now you can read a totally unbiased report done outside of the USA. 

Have a seat, light up and read the report you will find it invaluable in the days to come.

We want to thank Epitome for producing a important document that debunks the false and misleading data that has been forced upon the public by Big Pharma.

Sign our petition today to stop the smoking ban in 2009!

Democratic Principles, Freedom of Choice and Constitutional Rights
      Versus
Legislations Based on Myths.
(click on the above)

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Epitome has reviewed and evaluated the various authentic reports, research findings, legal positions, socio-economic issues and also the position taken by other Developed Countries in regards to the myth relating to health hazards of ETS. Epitome has compiled the findings of their research in this document. Epitome has undertaken this assignment voluntarily under its Corporate Social Responsibility program, wherein specific issues which affect the fundamental rights of the people are taken up for study and the findings are made public for the purpose of informing the public and assisting organizations such as Virginia Smokers Alliance in their efforts of protecting citizens rights and freedom.