Schwarzenegger Signs Prison Smoking Ban

[kskiska]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) signed legislation Monday that bans tobacco at California prisons, despite complaints that the law would simply drive tobacco use underground.

The bill's author, Republican Assemblyman Tim Leslie, predicted the legislation would "drastically reduce" prison health care costs.
"The governor has put us on the road to saving taxpayer dollars and prisoners' lives," he said.

(snip)

"There is a lot of evidence that suggests that in prisons that have already done this that tobacco is becoming the No. 1 contraband item," he said. "The reason for that is it can be purchased very cheaply on the outside and can be sold over and over on the inside. It's a big money maker."

The ban would cover both inmates and staff at the state's adult and youth prisons, starting next year, except in staff housing when prisoners are not present and at Indian religious ceremonies.

more…
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&e=12&u=/ap/schwarzenegger_bills

[jdj]

1. Why??

I think this is not quite sane.

And with his cigars, this is hypocritical.

Weird

[truthisfreedom]

6. well, he's not exactly in prison. i have mixed feelings about this. you

know that it will create huge underground contraband activity, but at the same time, wouldn't it reduce drugs in prison by eating up more of the money?

or would it increase drug sales by providing a larger amount of available cash for the people bringing in cigs? and will it increase the corruption of guards? probably.

[liberalnurse]

34. The irritability level will be quite nasty.

Union Correctional Officers will take the hits......Not a good idea.

[Voice_of_Europe]

61. Cigaretts = Currency in Prisons ... ?

I have the strong suspicion that they want to ban smoking because cigarettes are used as a form of money behind prison walls.

I wonder what will be the next item used for trade... buttons?

[tishaLA]

2. Arnold has too much time on his hands apparently

he refuses to do anything about our economic situation, so he instead fucks with prisoners. What a girly man.

[shanti]

37. he's pandering

to every bullshit bill that comes up.

[koopie57]

3. Where I work

they put in place a smoking ban covering the entire hospital campus. Usually easy going co-workers became like caged animals. I wonder what will happen at a prison. I somehow think it might be better for their health if they do allow smoking.

[DS1]

4. Somewhere.... In a prison... One man...

Is going to dig 500 yards to smoke a camel.

/movie guy voice

What a hypocrit, he's cost the state how much with his cigar smoking shennanigans?

[NVMojo]

5. we are frying kids in Iraq

but this is an issue? Gawd, what a cartoon for a Governor. California deserves this.

[okieinpain]

49. yeah, but didn't reagan get a rise to fame, from putting down

a prison riot, or was that college student. oh well to repugs they are one and the same.

[Maddy McCall]

7. Wait! Wasn't Gropenator's personal smoking cabana at fault for the...

flooding at the state capitol last week? The astroturf covered a storm drain and the result was part of the capitol flooding?

What a hypocrite!

[TrustingDog]

8. he's blowing smoke to cover his Enron ties.

idiot bastard.

[soothsayer]

9. Alot of cons will become religious Indians

Mebbe he wants to cut down on the Muslim converts.

[Downtown Hound]

10. Hey Arnold, you wanna save Californians some money?

How about giving up your lame idea for more energy deregulation? You know, we sort of tried that a few years back and it ended up costing us billions. Yet you want to do it again! But gee, I'm sure that we're now going to save so much money on this smoking ban in prisons that we're going to be rolling in dough.

Oh yeah, here's another radical idea. You wanna cut prison costs? How about not cramming them full of non-violent drug offenders? As I recall, you are opposed to repealing the three strikes law in its current incarnation that locks up people for life for stealing a slice of pizza. That would probably save a lot more money than your stupid smoking ban.

[Ladyhawk]

11. This will cause riots. Mark my words. n/t

[WillyT]

12. Exactly !!!

What sheer stupidity.

[shanti]

36. it sure will

ciggies "becoming" a contraband item?? please, it's already been one for years! this has been proposed by different governors before, but never enacted.

the gropenator is pandering.

[flordehinojos]

13. I read somewhere that Ahnold had a tent put in his office so HE could

smoke CIGARS.... Of course, he is the GOHVEHNOH ...the other ones they are just ...... prisoners.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

16. yes and it caused a building in the capitol to flood last week

[JDPriestly]

14. It's a liability issue

Secondhand smoke kills. The State of California can't afford a deluge of prisoner suits alleging that secondhand smoke made them sick. Also, California does not allow smoking in public buildings and bars. As a result, fewer and fewer Californians smoke. The majority of people who smoke in California aren't very well educated. Go to a meeting of doctors or lawyers, for example, and virtually nobody smokes.

I don't care much for Schwarzenegger, but, on this one, he's right.

[clown]

22. the yard

I don't see why they couldn't just ban it indoors and let the prisoners smoke when they are outside.

[shanti]

39. lol

you think they would stop at the yard? these are prisoners, they're used to breaking rules!

[alwynsw]

57. Kinda tough to cup a smoke

when you're being watched closely when entering the dorm or cellblock.

Also, most institutions I've worked in have fairly poor ventilation. It would be a cakewalk for the staff to locate smoking in the cellblocks or dorms.

The rub comes when a strong inmate is smoking in the dorm and forces the smoke on a punk when staff goes into a dorm or double bunk cell. No such problem in single bunk cells.

[uncle ray]

42. i hear that's what they make tents for.

if the gov can't be at his office for a short while without a smoke, how do they expect thousands of prisoners to handle not smoking...ever? it's not a debate of whether smoking's any good for you, it's a debate of keeping the prisoners manageable while they are incarcerated. i doubt the common thief or murderer gives a damn how many doctors or lawyers smoke. and it's not just prisoners, GUARDS are not going to be allowed to smoke either, you're gonna have very irratable people on both sides, and the guards will be most irratable, because they will stay addicted because they can jsut go home and smoke, but come back the next day and be fiending for a smoke while at work.

[Mizmoon]

53. care to back that up with a link?

"The majority of people who smoke in California aren't very well educated".

Or this one:

"As a result, fewer and fewer Californians smoke."

[PurityOfEssence]

15. Classic Republicanism: prison is punishment, and puritanism is best

They're in jail; we're better than they are. It should be made more like hell, because we're godly and we say so. Nothing enjoyable should be available to them, and they should be humiliated at every turn.

We can legislate morality because Prohibition was the guiding light of sucessful faith-based policy. Nobody will object, because EVERYONE wants to stick it to the criminals--well, until we ban that too--just like everyone wants a tax cut. Ah yes, feel holier-than-thou legislation at its best.

[Algorem]

17. gonna be alotuv seriously pissed prisoners.

At least Hitler was an anti-smoker WHO DIDN'T SMOKE.

[Senior citizen]

18. I'm glad he signed it.

Of course it will cause serious riots and increase prison violence. My guess is that it will lead to his recall, so it is a good thing.

[Psephos]

58. It's not a good thing.

Umm, maybe just maybe, people dying in serious riots and being injured in prison violence is not something to fervently wish for. We are talking about actual humans here, not theoretical constructs. They bleed. Just like you.

[VolcanoJen]

19. Brilliant Plan! Create a problem where none yet exists.

Cage 'em up, feed 'em food that would make the average household dog turn his nose up, deny them sexual release, take their weight-training away, and then, when all hope for rehabilitation and maintenance of normality has completely evaporated, TAKE THEIR CIGARETTES AWAY.

Un-fucking-believable. If you've never been a smoker, you couldn't possibly understand the effect of quitting under normal, supportive conditions, and how cranky and agitated one becomes using the cold-turkey method, under normal, supportive conditions. I hope they're at least thinking of supplying nicotine replacement therapy... yeh, whatever.

[LiberalVoice]

20. precisely

I have been smoke free for a little less then three weeks now and I cannot tell you the horrors that I went through.

If I was stuck in a jail cell with nothing to do I very easily might kill somebody,

[VolcanoJen]

23. It's just basic human and animal response.

Humans, just like animals, need release, and reward.

Incarcerated humans should not be denied basic needs. Reward. Release. Nobody's advocating for taxpayer subsidies of cancer-causing agents within the prison system. But if they're working for a reward, give it to them. Let's also not forget that the prison system is chock-full of recovering addicts (in other words, many, many people who shouldn't be in prisons to begin with). Even in AA, they let you smoke, and drink coffee.

There were times during work (as a server and bartender) when a cigarette seemed like what I was working for. Six hard hours on the floor, smiling, serving, making people happy. At the end, I looked forward to that cigarette. When I gave it up, I replaced it, with yoga, deep breaths, other ways to deal with stress, friends, smelling good, being healthy. I had options. I was free.

Attitudes like this contribute to the furthering of the black-and-white mindset so prevalent in politics today. Fuck criminals! They blew it, they can suffer. The problem is, nobody with this mindset ever thinks this all the way through... as Bill Clinton so thoughtfully said, you can't possibly imprison, conquer, or kill all of the enemies of society, so at one point, if you want to reach your goals, you'd be smartest to go to the table and negotiate.

Prisoners have nothing to put in the place of nicotine. Destroying their humanity and deconstructing their being will not contribute toward the ultimate goal for us, and them: Rehabilitation.

But as long as it earns votes and popular support for Der Gropenführer, I suppose we'll all be better off in the long run, and that's what really matters. :eyes:

[Algorem]

21. He's got them in bondage and he wants to dominate,

next comes the leather outfits and whips and all that?

[Seabiscuit]

24. Fuck that moronic hypocrictal cigar-chomping

freak puppet of the Cheney cartel. This is disgusting.

[ze_dscherman]

25. I'm a es-smoker and opposed to smoking

But this sounds pretty cruel to me. If the cigar-smoking, steroid-fed Ahnuld wants to reduce the costs of the prison system, he should free non-violent drug offenders and cancel the stupid three-strike law. The U.S. per capita rate of prisoners is the highest world wide.

Besides, cigarettes are some of the few "rewards" prisoners may get legally. If people are concerned about non-smokers, let the inmates smoke in special locations. Also, for many addicts, ex-addicts and also for many mentally ill/unstable, smoking is a kind of self-medication.

[Robb]

32. You already can't smoke in Colorado prisons

...I was quite surprised to hear it. As was my recently incarcerated friend, who kept thinking to herself "Well, at least I can have a smoke after the booking stuff is over." Nope.

Don't know how it's "working" here, but California isn't the first.

[DemBones DemBones]

26. How could Ahhnuld have a smoking cabana IN his office?

And how did it cause the capitol to flood? This just sounds too delicious to pass up!

(Yeah, I could do a search but I bet you Cali-for-nay-ians have the inside dope on it!)

[papau]

27. smoking tent in his office courtyard

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=1704084

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-smoke22sep22.story

Arnold's cigar Smoking Tentw/fake grass Blamed in Flood at Capitol

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-smoke22sep22.st...
REGION & STATE
Governor's Smoking Tent Blamed in Flood at Capitol
Bloomberg News

September 22, 2004

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's smoking tent in his office courtyard at the state Capitol is being blamed in part for the flooding of several rooms in the historic building.

[DemBones DemBones]

33. What a MORAN! He really, really irritates me.

He makes Sonny Perdue look good!

(Sonny is our Repub governor in GA, brought to us by Diebold in 2002.)

[KoKo]

40. Ahhhnold can smoke all the cigars he wants because he's free...prisoners

are criminals. Seems to me he thinks just like the Chimp. I'll do what I want to but force others to live differently. What a hypocrit.

[Character Assassin]

59. So you can't differentiate between convicted felons and free citizens?

They can't walk out of where they're incarcerated, either. Does that bother you to?

Prisoners are criminals, and understanding that has nothing to do with which party one belongs to or which candidate one supports.

There is absolutely zero hypocrisy on his stand on this issue. None whatsoever.

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

60. typical cop attitude

coppy coppy copcopcop

[951]

28. On the up side they have each other to smoke :)

[xchrom]

29. stoopid is as stoopid does

oh yeah -- here's a burning issue!
what? he couldn't figure out a way to increase california's debt this week?

[Flammable Materials]

30. Gee, how about fixing California's ECONOMY, you retard?

[Katha]

31. No smoking in prison

and soon, no walking and no talking!

[slackmaster]

35. This is fundamentally wrong

It sounds like something they'd do in Texas (and as a matter of fact, they did).

I'm a big-time opponent of tobacco use but it really isn't fair to existing inmates to change the rules of incarceration.

Inmates who smoke now should be grandfathered and allowed to smoke for the duration of their sentences. Make cessation of smoking part of the punishment for crimes going forward from today, so that can be one more reason for a prospective criminal to change his or her mind about committing a crime.

But of course a two-tiered system of "registered smokers" and non-smoking newbies would be impossible to enforce unless all inmates were isolated from one another, therefore I must regrettably oppose a smoking ban altogether.

Prison sucks badly enough. We shouldn't impose one more burden on inmates.

BTW I support California Proposition 66, which would modify the state's three-strikes law by requiring the third "strike" to be a violent crime before a life sentence is imposed.

[0007]

38. Yikes! Easier to smoke a joint than tobacco, 'eh?

[Bandit]

41. I agree with this very much

There happen to be some people in prison that don't smoke. They are forced to endure a smoke filled environment which is similar to being in a gas chamber. I realize that most smokers could give a shit about anyone but themselves but there are other people involved here. This obscession with people being able to force their poison onto other people just to satisfy their own cravings has to stop. I don't care if these people are in Prison. some are there for non-violent crimes and some are actually innocent of any crime at all. You feel it is okay to keep them locked up in a tiny cell and forced to breathe foul poisonous air because some people are addicted to a foul drug. I think that is extremely cruel and unusual punishment. Get a Grip People.

[Sandpiper]

43. That might be the most ridiculous comparison I've ever heard

They are forced to endure a smoke filled environment which is similar to being in a gas chamber

I know that you anti smoking puritans lose all sense of reality when it comes to cigarettes, but get a grip, will you.

How's about we put your assertion to the test.

I'll stand in a room full of second hand cigarette smoke for half an hour.

You stand in a room full of cyanide gas for half an hour.

Then, when time's up, we'll see who walks out and who doesn't.

[Bandit]

48. There are many types of gas

How about a room with CS Gas. I would find that comparable. Although CS is quite irritating it is not poisonous while on the other hand cigarette smoke is quite lethal. The great majority of Preventable deaths in America are because of cigarette smoke. CS Gas is just a tear gas. If you had spent time in the military you would have spent time in a gas chamber both with and without a gas mask.

[olddad56]

44. might come back to haunt him...

if being a crooked politician ever becomes a crime that people are punished for, he may wind up without a place to smoke his cigars or park his hummer.

[Disturbed]

47. He should set the example...

and quit smoking.

[shanti]

45. what's wrong with smoking outside??

n/t

[robbedvoter]

46. Smoking, tanning salons, sex with corpses - but NO energy bill

Glad the Gropenator has his priorities straight.

[Freddie Stubbs]

56. Perhaps he is waiting for the Democratic controlled legislature

to send him the bill? :shrug:

[Ilsa]

50. I am a nonsmoker and this

doesn't sound like it's going to solve any problems, but make life hell for the prison guards.

[progressivebydesign]

52. TAXPAYERS pay for the smoking related diseases of the prisoners..

.. it's actually a cost cutting measure. If you realize how large the prison population in America is, and we're ALL paying for their health care thru our taxes, and you realize how many smoke.. well that's millions and millions in treatment for smoke related diseases of the prisoners.

[Ilsa]

55. I know, and i hate it,and I hate breathing second-hand smoke.

But I also know these addictions aren't solved in a day, and some of these prisoners have been long term smokers. I'd like to see alternate therapies provided.

My father in law keeps trying to quit and has been unsuccessful. I also get warnings from my mother in law when he's "smoke free". He seems to have a lower tolerance for everything when he's trying to stop. He's been a smoker since he was in his early teens.

[progressivebydesign]

51. I'm an avid non-smoker.. but find this to be so ironic..

Arnold had a special smoking tent put up adjacent to his office, to circumvent the smoking laws NOW he's signing a bill making illegal for prisoners to smoke. wow.. ironic or hypocritical.

I think the idea of a tobacco free environment might be good. It'll save the taxpayers millions in health care for smoking related diseases. It'll be a hard sell, and I'd hate to be working there while they all go cold turkey at once. Ouch!

[Freddie Stubbs]

54. If non-criminals can't smoke in bars?

Why should prisoners be able to smoke in jail?