Pelosi bans smoking near House floor

[RedEarth]

WASHINGTON - New House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) 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-Calif., 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 (news, bio, voting record), R-Ohio, often has 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."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070110/ap_on_go_co/congress_smoking_1

[porphyrian]

1. As long as she doesn't outlaw it on the premises entirely...

...I don't see any problem with making them walk to a door.

[Bonhomme Richard]

2. Oh God. Not more smoking threads. n/t

[Rosemary2205]

9. My thoughts exactly

I saw this earlier and was tempted to post it but I don't think I could take another week of smoking flame threads.

[tridim]

3. Hehe, how'd I guess that Boehner is a smoker..

Take it outside loser. :)

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. There are Democrats who smoke.

Including presidential candidates who are trying to break the habit. :)

[Virginia Dare]

10. This is less about smokers vs. non-smokers...

than it is about kicking the tobacco lobby to the curb.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. Perhaps, but the comment above was not... and therefore I was replying

to that one.

Thank you. :hi:

[Virginia Dare]

12. should have replied to that post, thanks for the clarification!

at any rate, I don't want to fight the smoking civil war again!

:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. Me either.

:hi:

But I'm a shameless hypocrisy pointer outer. ;)

[Virginia Dare]

14. Thanks, keep us on our toes MrsGrumpy!...n/t

[tridim]

15. The article mentioned Boehner, so that's who I mentioned.

I'm an ex-smoker BTW and I think this is a good move.

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. I'm ambivalent about it, but I just thought I'd bring up the fact he isn't

the only one affected by this. :hi:

[BuyingThyme]

4. This is obviously a ploy to oust Boehner.

[Virginia Dare]

5. Blunt's wife is a tobacco lobbyist too...

so you know between the two of them, they were probably scuttling this move. Great, keep pissing them off royally Madam Speaker!

[BuyingThyme]

6. Some say John dyes his skin with tobacco juice.

[TlalocW]

7. I like it

Pelosi giveth to Boehner (day off to watch football), and Pelosi taketh away from Boehner (smoking in the lobby).

TlalocW

[Hippo_Tron]

16. The capitol building has plenty of exits

Shouldn't be too hard for a congressmen to walk outdoors especially since they get to bypass security.

[cwydro]

17. Wondered when someone would post this.

:scared: