Casino Smoking Ban Seen Unlawful By Tribes

[The Straight Story]

Casino Smoking Ban Seen Unlawful By Tribes
Blumenthal's proposal called potential breach of sovereignty 'rule of law'



Hartford - Both the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes were predictably cold Monday to Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's call for a phased-in smoking ban that would culminate in smoke-free conditions at Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods Resort Casino and MGM Grand at Foxwoods by October 2011.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell's office, which has been discussing smoking at the casinos with tribal officials, wasn't thrilled either.

While unionized table-games dealers from Foxwoods and other anti-smoking advocates who lined up behind Blumenthal at a press conference focused on the effects of secondhand smoke, tribal officials later served notice that the overriding issue is one of tribal sovereignty.

That sovereignty “is a rule of law that supersedes the wishes of even Attorney General Blumenthal, and is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution,” Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum, chairman of the Mohegan Tribal Council, said in a statement.

http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=c22eda00-a364-455b-a636-f470939ab84c

[Deep13]

1. I was under the impression that the Pequot were extinct.

At least that's what it says in Moby Dick.

[Warpy]

2. Tribal casinos here in NM all feature black clouds of smoke

but no alcohol on premises. It seems there's ample precedent for casinos on tribal land to avoid state antismoking laws.

[SoCalDem]

3. When the smoking nazis tried this in Vegas, it did not turn out the way they had planned

Early-on, there were large non-smoking areas in the casinos, with plenty of "available" slot machines....and standing room only in the other areas..

The non-smoking areas have been "smaller-fied" over the years..

If butts in ashtrays=butts in chairs, they prefer that..

[Deep13]

5. People who care about public health are not Nazis.

Thanks for the angry, juvenile name-calling.

The article says that the dealer's union supports the ban. Apparently, employees don't like having to choose between working and health.

[Winterblues]

4. Surgeon General says "There is NO Safe amount of second hand smoke."

The Debate is Over...

[bunnies]

6. I was just at Foxwoods & MGM last week...

There was NO visible smoke in the casinos. Hell, the place didnt even smell like smoke! It was so fresh, in fact, that I thought smoking had already been banned. Besides, its up to the tribes. Geezus, cant they be allowed to control ANYTHING?!