Last Chance to Stop the Smoking Bill SB348 (2010)

Senate Bill 348 (SB348) was approved by the Senate. Now, the Louisiana House of Representatives has a chance to strike it down. Here’s how you can help:

1. First, fill out this form to send an email to all of the members of the Louisiana House of Representatives, and tell them to reject SB 348.
2. Phone the representative that represents your district and tell him or her that we do not want to sacrifice our freedoms anymore. To find your representative, look up your House Legislator below.
   • House of Representatives Switchboard: 225-342-6945.
3. Finally, tell everyone you know about this important issue.

Find your Legislators by Address:

Address:

City:

Instead of calling the switchboards, you can also find phone numbers for each legislator by visiting their webpage after submitting the above form.

Legislators usually have little time to chat, so be ready to state your position. If they are unavailable, leave a message that summarizes your point of view.

Take Action to Stop the Smoking Bills (2010)

A new bill has been introduced by Senator Rob Marionneaux, D-Livonia that would ban smoking in bars and casinos in Louisiana Senate Bill 348 (SB348). Here’s how you can help:

1. First, fill out this form to send an email to all of the members of the Louisiana Senate, and tell them to reject SB 348.
2. Phone the legislators that represent your district and tell them that we do not want to sacrifice our freedoms anymore. To find your representatives, look up your House and Senate Legislators below.
   • Senate Switchboard: 225-342-2040.
   • House of Representatives Switchboard: 225-342-6945.
3. Finally, tell everyone you know about this important issue.

Find your Legislators by Address:

Address:

City:

Instead of calling the switchboards, you can also find phone numbers for each legislator by visiting their webpage after submitting the above form.

Legislators usually have little time to chat, so be ready to state your position. If they are unavailable, leave a message that summarizes your point of view.

A New Bill in 2010 Threatens to Ban Smoking in Bars and Casinos in Louisiana

Louisiana for Fair Tobacco Reform is a group of individuals and businesses that came together in 2009 to prevent the local government from taking away our freedom. Last year, we were able to defeat the proposed smoking ban that threatened to ban smoking in bars and casinos in Louisiana. In 2010 the legislature is at it again with a new bill to ban smoking in bars and casinos.

We recently added a new member, Havana Dreams Cigars. With the addition of Havana Dreams Cigars as a business member, we have officially expanded the reach of Louisiana for Fair Tobacco Reform to include any business that wishes to stand up against smoking bans regardless of whether the currently proposed legislation would effect them. While cigar shops such as Havana Dreams Cigars are not being directly targeted by the current bill, if smoking is banned in bars and casinos in Louisiana, the anti-smoking political machine will push a ban on smoking in cigar shops as well. Thus, we are in the process of gathering support from businesses that will be gravely affected by this systematic denial of freedoms by our local government.

For more information, please read the updated About section.

Congratulations Louisiana, Smoking Ban Defeated

Today, Louisiana has bucked the national trend, and said “No more smoking bans.” To everyone who spoke out against this unconstitutional law, congratulations: your voices have been heard. This website will remain here for you to ensure that Louisiana does not go down this road again.
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Proof that Smoking Bans Don’t Work

Yesterday, the House Health and Welfare committee narrowly passed HB844 by one vote. This means that the bill moves on to the full House of Representatives for debate. This bill passed despite testimony from the opposition which presented undisputed evidence that smoking bans do not work.
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UPDATED: Take Action to Stop the Smoking Bills Now

UPDATE: The Bills have moved on to the House and Senate floors, so these forms have been updated to include every Louisiana legislator. Please fill out these forms again even if you have done so already. Fill them out every day if you have time!

Two bills have been introduced, one by State Representative Gary Smith, D-Norco, and the other by Senator Rob Marionneaux, D-Livonia. House Bill 844 (HB844 bans smoking in bars) and Senate Bill 186 (SB186, bans smoking in bars that serve food). Here’s how you can help:

1. First, fill out this form to send an email to all of the members of the House of Representatives, and tell them to amend HB844 to allow smoking in bars.
2. Then fill out this form to send an email to all of the members of the Louisiana Senate, and tell them to amend SB 186 to allow smoking bars.
3. Phone the legislators that represent your district and tell them that we do not want to sacrifice our freedoms anymore. To find your representatives, look up your House and Senate Legislators below.
   • House of Representatives Switchboard: 225-342-6945.
   • Senate Switchboard: 225-342-2040.
4. Finally, tell everyone you know about this important issue.

Find your Legislators by Address:

Address:

City:

Instead of calling the switchboards, you can also find phone numbers for each legislator by visiting their webpage after submitting the above form.

Legislators usually have little time to chat, so be ready to state your position. If they are unavailable, leave a message that summarizes your point of view.

Two New Smoking Bills Introduced in Louisiana

The Times Picayune reports on the introduction of two new smoking bills, and overwhelmingly the reader comments oppose them both.

Rep. Gary Smith, D-Norco, has filed House Bill 844 to ban smoking in “any restaurant or bar.” A state law adopted three years ago banned smoking in restaurants, office buildings and other public places but granted exceptions to bars, gambling boats and casinos.

Commenter feindav expresses a common sentiment:

Don’t get me wrong: I don’t smoke and I hate smelling like smoke after I go out, but this is (used to be) a free country. If a bar wants to ban smoking, go for it; if a bar wants to allow smoking, go for it. Let the people decide.

Many businesses that have operated legitimately for years would be hurt both financially and culturally should this proposed smoking ban be passed, something that we can ill afford in recovering New Orleans. Yet New Orleans’ bars are not alone in this respect: all Louisiana businesses should not have to shoulder such a fiscal burden during these dismal economic times.  Our legislature should be looking for ways to support and encourage Louisiana businesses, not harm and possibly destroy them. Times are already tough enough without the government piling on.

Yet the financial harm these proposed bills would impose on Louisiana businesses is not their only problem: the interference of government in the personal choice of individuals is worse. Individuals are already able to choose for themselves whether or not to patronize a particular business, so why do we need the government stepping in and making the decision for us? A handful of legislators should not be able to decide what is best for us all; the people should decide. Just as customers choose which bars to patronize (and non-smoking options already exist), employees choose where they work and private bar owners choose what to allow on their property. Government is overstepping its bounds when it moves to take that choice away, and that is exactly what is happening now. Stand up and make your voice heard! Contact the Committee on Health and Welfare in both the House and Senate and tell them that you oppose the proposed smoking ban.

You can read Representative Gary Smith’s bill at the Louisiana Legislature’s website by entering 844 under Bill Search, to the right of the box marked HB. To view the bill by Sen. Rob Marionneaux, click to change the HB box to SB and enter 186.

Why Are We Here?

The Louisiana legislature is considering an extension of the existing state smoking law to bars thereby allowing smoking only in cigar shops and casinos. We believe that this legislation goes too far. Louisiana’s adults are already free to choose whether or not to patronize a bar with or without smoking, and they do not need the government stepping in and taking that choice away. Similarly, employees are able to choose whether or not to work in businesses that allow smoking, just as private bar owners are able to choose whether or not to have smoking on their premises. The government has no right to step in and decide what is best for everyone. We the people should be able to decide for ourselves.

Furthermore, such a ban would cause financial harm to many Louisiana businesses already struggling in these dire economic times.  For the Louisiana Legislature to add to their fiscal burden shows a callous indifference to the important role such small businesses play in providing much-needed jobs and tax revenue in our struggling economy.  The State of Louisiana needs to support its businesses in today’s downturn, not push them to the brink of collapse with ill-considered legislation.

We believe that people who choose to smoke should be allowed to go to bars and businesses that specifically cater to smokers. We also believe that there should be an exception to any ban allowing for the cultural uses of tobacco, most importantly hookah smoking. Currently Louisiana’s Middle Eastern community has been completely left out of any discussion regarding the smoking ban despite the important role of hookah smoking to their heritage. By ignoring this tradition the Louisiana legislature shows great contempt for the culture of Louisianans of Middle Eastern descent. Such scorn is simply not acceptable, and we urge our legislators to allow for cultural exceptions to any proposed smoking ban.

What is at stake here is having the freedom to choose for yourself how you want to live your life. Private citizens do not need the government meddling in every single aspect of their lives, and a smoking ban is just the first step down the slippery slope of government elimination of your freedoms. There will always be people out there who will stop at nothing to take away your right to smoke and who think that they have the right to tell you how to live your life. Through their lobbying efforts and the acquiescence of government they will eventually force their will onto you.  Unless, that is, you find a way to stand up and make your voice heard. Unite with us to fight this un-American legislation today!

Update: In 2010, Louisiana For Fair Tobacco Reform expanded to represent all businesses that oppose smoking bans in Louisiana, even if the currently proposed legislation does not directly effect them. (See the updated Aboutsection)