Pelosi kicks butts near House floor: No smoking

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/10/house.smoking.ap/index.html

New House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is snuffing out one of Congress' enduring prerogatives, still cherished by some lawmakers -- the right to smoke near the floor of the House.

Pelosi, D-California, announced Wednesday that effective immediately, House members would no longer be able to light up in the ornate Speaker's Lobby off the House floor where lawmakers mingle during votes.

The room is often hazy with smoke, as it was Tuesday night as the House voted on anti-terror legislation; Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, often has a cigarette in hand, for example.

"The days of smoke-filled rooms in the United States Capitol are over," Pelosi said. "Medical science has unquestionably established the dangerous effects of secondhand smoke, including an increased risk of cancer and respiratory diseases. I am a firm believer that Congress should lead by example."

Smoke-filled rooms won't be gone entirely -- lawmakers will still be allowed to smoke in their own offices.

[Robb]

1. RIP the oldest form of government

...the "Cigarthy." :evilgrin:

[Tom Joad]

2. From now on, only healthy backroom deals and shenanigans allowed!

What a difference that will make.

Lobbyists will live longer lives.

[tchunter]

3. good thing they are focusing on the important issues

and silly me thought there was a war going on

[Tempest]

5. Taking a few minutes to make statement to change policy really took away from other priorities

:eyes:

[Kolesar]

7. yeah, when ever does Nancy Pelosi give attention to the war?

Welcome to the DU message board :hi:

[Harper_is_Bush]

36. Why would the simple establishment of a rule like that interfere with anything else?

Second hand smoke is an important issue to those who have to breath it. Don't you want all those Dem lawmakers to live long healthy lives? :)

[Pacifist Patriot]

37. Unlike some folks, I bet she can walk and chew gum at the same time too.

Good grief. Can no one appreciate multi-tasking and multiple interests anymore? Sorry, but I'll reserve my concern for people who think there is only one thing going on at any one time.

[happydreams]

38. Gum is no good for your teeth. Unless of course

its sugarless. :bounce:

[Drum]

46. Then laws should be passed forthwith against gums containing sugar!

Think of the children!!!

:eyes:

[happydreams]

56. Let's stop the war first. hee, hee.

[Ellen Forradalom]

4. Nothing wrong with leading by example

Now if the rest of us could get their health-care and pension plans, that would be awesome.

[Debi]

6. Oh God, not another anti-smoking thread

:hide:

[William769]

8. I hate anti smoking threads but

I agree with this one.

[Debi]

9. I was being sarcastic...shoulda used the :sarcasm: n/t

[happydreams]

39. So your anti-anti-smoking threads?

:evilgrin:

[onehandle]

10. Health issues aside, smoking in historic buildings is wrong.

Sticky black tar and ash dust destroys the wood, paintings, statuary, etc.

[madrchsod]

11. how many public buildings in the usa can you smoke in?

i`d say not very many. anyone doubt nancy knows how to get things done?

[displacedtexan]

12. Repuke John Boehner smokes 3 packs a day.

This new rule is a great way to keep him out of the loop.

Also, the historic building reply makes a lot of sense.

[bigworld]

17. Yeah, he looks like it.

He's got that smoker's tan.

[wordpix]

21. keep 3 pack-a-day Boehner out of the loop---bwahaha, good one!

[Nihil]

33. Three packs a day?

They shouldn't ban him, they should refine him!

[Beaverhausen]

30. Oh SNAP!!!

I love Madame Speaker Pelosi!!!

[Dulcinea]

52. How does he have time to get anything done?

You really have to make time to smoke that much!

[partylessinOhio]

13. OK, now that you've cleared the air - set your table with Impeachment!

[Dervill Crow]

14. Good for her!

Why should smoking be allowed for the people who pass laws prohibiting other people to smoke in public buildings? It's been a couple of decades since I was allowed to smoke in my office, and I actually bit the bullet and quit.

[RamboLiberal]

29. I agree - they should to abide by the same laws as the rest of

us peons. I'd ban smoking in their offices as well! Let them smoke outside!

[Idioteque]

15. Oh come on Nancy...

...at least put it up for a vote!

Edit: On the other hand, they can still smoke in their offices. When I'm a Congressman like 15 years from now, I'm totally gonna have hookahs in my office for my guests and I. :P

[David Zephyr]

16. As a cigar smoker, I salute this move by Nancy.

Public spaces should be free from smoke to all.

I enjoy a cigar at my home in my garden many evenings, but that's it.

[w4rma]

18. Good. That's a very historic building that the smoke is ruining. (nt)

[Drum]

47. Frankly, I think there's more ruining the Capitol than smoke. nt

[BigDDem]

19. Way to go Nancy

Boehner will have to puff his coffin nails elsewhere.

[AlCzervik]

20. am i the only one that is surprised they smoked in that building?

i smoke but i smoke outside-my choice mind you. My husband doesn't smoke and i don't want my house to stink.

[wordpix]

22. thank you, Nancy, you rock! Now on to stop the Iraq War slaughter & war profiteering

:yourock:

[Bucky]

23. No smoking, no blowing, and no blowing smoke.

We shoulda made a lady Speaker long ago. They seem to have a natural aptitude for running the House :hide:

[0rganism]

24. and why not have our reps live in the same conditions we do?

workplace smoking is pretty much a thing of the past. i haven't worked anyplace that allowed indoor smoking since... 1986? dang, that's 21 years ago.

health benefits aside, it makes sense for congresscritters to work under the same constraints the rest of us do. the 5-day work week is also a nice touch.

[rodeodance]

25. fox news laughed at this

[ellisonz]

26. The should set up a clear heated smoking tent outside on the lawn.

:smoke:

[Dulcinea]

53. I have no problem with that.

Bars that prohibit indoor smoking should be required to do the same. :smoke:

[TheFarseer]

27. silly to stir up this controversy IMO

when there are so many controversies that actually effect anyone to stir up.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

59. Yes, seems rather trite and shallow to start with this...

in comparison with all the crime and corruption we have been suffering with these long 6 years ...

[Catch22Dem]

28. I thought smoking was banned in ALL government buildings years ago

I know you couldn't smoke, even in your barracks, in the Air Force starting sometime in the early 90s.

[divineorder]

31. That's True

As a Fed, smoking is prohibited in all our buildings. There are outside smoking huts, and some places allow smoking only if you are more than 15ft away from the entrance.

Remember, that it's not just the Congresscritters that are in the building. You have constituents, visitors, aides, and even pages and employees there, all in various states of health. Secondhand smoke affects them too, some of them may even have lung conditions.

And I'm also surprised nobody has brought up the fire hazard, even though I suspect they have some sort of sprinkler system to keep things from getting pretty big. Dropped cigarettes in wastecans filled with paper, butts dropped on rugs, burnt items probably cost more than we think each year in both security (incidents have to be addressed) and maintenance (repairs and cleaning) costs.

The move to ban smoking has been pretty recent. When I first started, we could smoke in the cafeteria, and our bathroom had a smoke fan. I remember going in both and just feeling the slime on my skin from all of the accumulated nicotine and tar. Before I knew it, smoking was prohibited in the bathrooms, and the cafetria had a smoking section. Then it was moved outside to huts, and smoking wasn't allowed anywhere indoors. Plus we've had for several years now programs to help people quit smoking. Part of it is the growing awareness that people really do suffer from second-hand smoke working in enclosed environments. Allergies, people who are struggling with lung conditions and asthma, a great deal of colds and coughing is a lot to pay for keeping a much-needed job.. Not to mention all of the people who have had to wash smoke residue out of their hair and clothes. Plus all of the absenteeism from people whose conditions are worsened by second-hand smoke. When the government pays part of your health insurance, there is an incentive to try to deal with preventable illness.

[LostinVA]

32. That's what I was wondering, too n/t

[NYC Liberal]

34. Tom DeLay won't be happy. OH WAIT!

:rofl:

Remember, him not being able to light up a cigar in a restaurant on federal property was what prompted him to utter his "I am the federal government!" remark.

[outofbounds]

35. You really have to love this

For fifteen + years they have been passing laws regarding smoking that effect every one but themselves. Hypocrites, thank you Madam Speaker. I hope some one will post a picture of the members standing outside in the rain or snow to smoke. Oh thats right they can still smoke in their offices. :smoke:

[Clarkie1]

40. Smoking congresspeople have NO RIGHT to expose non-smoking congresspeople to their yucky smoke.

Simple as that!

:thumbsup:

[Diane R]

41. Congress is finally accessible for people with respiratory illnesses. Go Nancy!

[Az_lefty]

yes ma'am...

:applause:

[JerseygirlCT]

42. Good for her! nt

[Piperay]

43. GOOD that's TERRIFIC!!! nt

:thumbsup:

[Red1]

44. Big F**ken Whoop

I wanna hear her say no fuckin way shrub will you send one more American soldier to iraq.

I wanna hear her say, funding is now being cut to the army, funding is being cut
to the air force, funding is being cut to the navy.

I wanna hear her say, "Shrub, I'm gonna let the American people know that if and when our
service men and women run out of food its because you kept them in a situation knowing
the money wasn't there to feed them and the house and senate told you that months ago."

No smoking? Screw that BS.

[LostinVA]

50. Speaker Pelosi has been doing a bangup job so far

Including this policy, which stands in EVERY other Federal building. Congress is not above either the law or common courtesy.

Go Madame Speaker!

[fujiyama]

45. I'm surprised they allowed it

being that it's a federal building. As mentioned, aside from the health concerns for all inside, it's a fire hazard and messes up a historic building.

These are public buildings and should be accessible for all.

And I myself smoke once in a while, but smoking in a work place is just a bad idea.

[Endangered Specie]

48. Am I the only one who doesn't see a problem with Republicans smoking

heavily?

[donheld]

49. When they are around Democrats, Yes I do

When they are alone they should smoke HEAVILY, but no second hand smoke for democrats.

[Raine]

58. That's right

we don't want the Democrats to die prematurely from breathing in that all that horrid smoke.

[Skittles]

51. this is a good move

I'm an ex-smoker and I can tell you the no-smoking rules at work absolutely help me quit - I tended to give in when I was around smokers and now that they've made that more difficult I no longer smoke (although I still want to)- Ms. Pelosi is absolutely right they should lead by example.

[mmonk]

54. This is so important given the "war on terror" and all.

[moroni]

55. You go !

"I am a firm believer that Congress should lead by example."

Now maybe she will get congress to contribute to social security!

Blessings to all,

moroni

[Greg Helmsley]

57. Maddam Speaker....

we didn't hire you to lead, we hired you to do your job. And your job is to end this war now!