Theater Night Update 5-22-08

Hello Everyone -

Just a quick update. This one slipped by me but one of our loyal readers sent this to me. I would like to personally thank the authors, Buesgens, Heidgerken, Howes, Holberg, Erickson, Hackbarth, Smith and Magnus, who offered an amendment to S. F. No. 2809, to repeal the smoking ban. Actually, several amendments were offered but voted down on May 17. A personal thanks also goes to M. Olson, Westrom and Rukavina for standing up for us. If you have time this long weekend and want to watch our great legislators at work, here is the video link to that session http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/programa.asp?ls_year=85&event_id=1695 . It starts at ~ 15:46 into the video. Make sure you have "blood pressure" medication near....you might need it. (Also, you can fast forward it when they have the "calls to the House", it gets rather time consuming waiting for them to show up.) It was interesting to hear Rep Mark Olson tell how the American Cancer Society lobbied him and admitted out right that their goal was to get everyone to quit smoking period. We all knew that was their actual goal and not that of protecting employees health. I'm just amazed they actually admitted it!

Well, the gauntlet has been thrown down. It is time for us to show them we will not put up with them legislating our behaviour, not now or in our future. We have the power and we will use it come this November. There is plenty of time between now and November and as I promised, I will do the research on these legislators and publish it. Everyone will know where these legislators stand and thus who to vote for this coming election. The idea that some of these legislators could care less about the economic hardships they have caused us just BURNS me! These people don't represent us....they have their own agenda and must go! I would lay odds these same legislators want to take more freedom and personal choices away from us...I will find out. Do they really think that WE,THE PEOPLE will not hold them accountable for their actions? Do they think since the session has ended that they are safe? Well, they're not too smart are they!
Enough is Enough and they will find that out!


SF2809 & HF1825
Bill: Smoking in a nonsmoking hotel room penalty increased, and civil and criminal penalties imposed.
Senate Authors: Dibble; Dille; Higgins; Foley
House Authors: Kahn; Bly; Abeler; Jaros




Health
Smoking ban stays Published (5/17/2008)


An attempt to overturn the state smoking ban was snuffed out by the House.

While debating a bill that would provide a civil process for recovery of costs, a service charge and a civil penalty against an individual who smokes in a designated non-smoking hotel room, Rep. Mark Buesgens (R-Jordan) unsuccessfully offered an amendment to repeal the smoking ban enacted by the 2007 Legislature.

The attempt was ruled not germane by Rep. Al Juhnke (DFL-Willmar), who was presiding over the body at the time, and upheld on an 86-48 vote among House members.

The House passed the bill 94-39; the Senate did so 46-16 May 13.

Current law provides that a person who smokes in a hotel sleeping room designated as “non-smoking” may be convicted of a petty misdemeanor for the offense, and may be required to reimburse the innkeeper for the actual costs to restore the room to its pre-violation condition, up to $100.

Sponsored by Rep. Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Mpls) and Sen. D. Scott Dibble (DFL-Mpls), HF1825/SF2809* also removes the cap and enable to hotel to recover the entire actual cost of restoring a damaged room to its pre-violation condition.

link : http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/sessiondaily.asp?yearid=2008&storyid=1466