Huffs and No Puffs: Committee Blows Down House’s Smoking Lounges

[babylonsister]

Oh, noes! This is bound to make Boehner cranky. :D


Huffs and No Puffs: Committee Blows Down House’s Smoking Lounges
By Edward Epstein, CQ Staff


Smokers are losing their last major indoor refuges on the House side of the Capitol complex.

The House Administration Committee said Thursday it has decided to close the glassed-in smoking rooms in the cafeterias of the Longworth and Cannon office buildings. Smokers will get a reprieve while officials prepare for the closure.

“No time frame has been established for the closure,” said Kyle Anderson, committee spokesman. “The decision was made today.”

The move is little surprise because Speaker Nancy Pelosi is no fan of smoking.

Shortly after becoming speaker in January 2007, Pelosi, D-Calif., cracked down on smoking among her fellow House members by banning smoking in the ornate Speaker’s Lobby off the House floor. That order means that in all weather House members must gather outside on a balcony to light up during floor votes. Members can still light up in their own offices.

The latest edict means House employees, members and visitors who smoke will no longer be able to light up after going to the busy cafeterias for lunch, snacks or a coffee break. Instead, they probably will have to go outdoors.

more...

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000003092078

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. Good.

Maybe Nancy can pass out the nicotine gum. :shrug:

[ShortnFiery]

7. She best start with "The Boehner" = and avid smoker I hear.

:rofl:

[ixion]

2. This country belongs to smokers just as it belongs to non-smokers

and it really annoys me that despite the compromises smokers have made over the years, anti-smoking zealots continue to berate and make stupid laws.

It's a bunch of crap, IMO.

[tpsbmam]

3. Why can they light up ANYWHERE in a federal building?

Unless they have the appropriate filtering systems (which I doubt), why are they even allowed to smoke in their offices? What about the staffers exposed to the smoke? What about all of the chemicals contained in smoke being introduced into the ventilation system? What about constituents who visit their representatives being exposed to the smoky offices? We can protect people who go into a bar but we can't protect people who work in the capitol complex? What a load of bullshit....one of endless examples of "do as we say, not as we do" coming out of Washington. They should have to obey the same rules as the rest of us face in public buildings.....no smoking inside!

(And no, I'm not a vehement anti-smoker. I quit but I'd still kill for a cigarette! Just don't want them to kill me.)

[Starlight]

4. ITA. Many people, myself included, are extremely allergic to smoke. It's outrageous that r/o

anyone would think it's ok to force colleagues to breathe a toxic substance.

[L0oniX]

5. heheh

[Bryn]

6. Actually e-cigarette is much better than a regular cigarette

I am enjoying my DSE901 and 510 Titan e-cigarettes. No smoke. Just vapor! Tastes and feels like a smoke, but much better since it doesn't stink, cause cancer...no 2nd hand smoke, it won't cause fire.