Redrant: How about a survey asking if a public transit users should pay higher costs, perhaps double the current fares to pay the cost of public transit?
No skin off my back! I rarely use public transit. ...... The point here is that only a very small percentage of people regularly use public transit so higher fares won't affect them. ......... Past Twin Cities transit strikes have shown negligible impact on traffic.......How about using using the same method of this survey for a survey on users paying public transit costs? .....Same survey logic! Greg Lang
Survey: Minnesotans want higher state tax on smokes.
http://www.startribune.com/local/41148317.html
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Theater Nite Update 3-8-09
Hello Everyone,
It has been a while since my last update and a few things have been happening. First of all, Mark Benjamin has received the date (April 16th) for his appeal hearing and will be issuing a press release soon. A few other things have been going on in the Legislature and I have noted them below......a Senate bill for an employee smoke room (SF 898), a House bill to REMOVE the smoking exception for patients in psychiatric wards (HF1142), and the Senate version of the bill "no smoking in cars with children" is proceeding through committee hearings. Further down the e-mail is an update from the Tavern League that you may find interesting....interlocking devices are gaining momentum. One last item, I have been hearing of several establishments that are getting fined/ticketed for "over-pouring customers".....apparently the state does not like missing out on it's tax revenue.
Don't forget to visit www.freedomtoact.com and read about the former US surgeon General accused of scandal and the Rasmussen Poll (51% oppose outdoor smoking ban).
On with the Show!!!
Sheila
| Employee Smoking Room |
S.F. No. 898, as introduced - 86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) Posted on Feb 19, 2009
1.2relating to health; creating an exception to the Clean Indoor Air Act; allowing
1.3employee smoking rooms under certain conditions;amending Minnesota Statutes
1.42008, section 144.4167, by adding a subdivision.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.4167, is amended by adding a
1.7subdivision to read:
1.8 Subd. 10. Employee smoking rooms. (a) Sections 144.414 to 144.417 do not
1.9prohibit smoking by employees in a designated smoking room, provided no common door
1.10exists between the place of employment and the smoking room.
1.11(b) A smoking room that satisfies the conditions in paragraph (a) may be heated and
1.12cooled, may have a roof and four walls, and may share a common wall with the place of
1.13employment.
1.3employee smoking rooms under certain conditions;amending Minnesota Statutes
1.42008, section 144.4167, by adding a subdivision.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.4167, is amended by adding a
1.7subdivision to read:
1.8 Subd. 10. Employee smoking rooms. (a) Sections 144.414 to 144.417 do not
1.9prohibit smoking by employees in a designated smoking room, provided no common door
1.10exists between the place of employment and the smoking room.
1.11(b) A smoking room that satisfies the conditions in paragraph (a) may be heated and
1.12cooled, may have a roof and four walls, and may share a common wall with the place of
1.13employment.
| Smoking ban exception for patients in locked psychiatric units eliminated. |
H. F. 1142, A bill for an act relating to health; removing an exception to the smoking ban for patients in a locked psychiatric unit; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.414, subdivision 3.
Smoking ban exception for patients in locked psychiatric units eliminated.
| Smoking in motor vehicles with children prohibition |
| Bill Name: SF0359 Bill Text | Companion: HF0379 Companion Text Companion Status House Search | Revisor Number: 09-0811 |
| Senate Authors | Pappas ; Marty ; Prettner Solon ; Higgins |
|---|
| Short Description | Smoking in motor vehicles with children prohibition |
|---|
| Long Description | Committee Hearings and Actions Division Reports Committee Engrossments | Senate Counsel & Research Summary |
SENATE Actions HOUSE Actions Top
| Date ↓ | Action | Description / Committee | Text | Page | Roll Call |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/02/2009 | Introduction and first reading | Intro | 149 | ||
| 02/02/2009 | Referred to | Health, Housing and Family Security | |||
| 02/12/2009 | Author stricken | Dille | 235 | ||
| 03/02/2009 | Comm rpt: To pass as amend & re-ref to | Judiciary | 1 | 360a | |
| 03/09/2009 | Comm rpt: To pass as amend & re-ref to | Finance |
Tavern League MN NEWS BRIEF WEEK OF FEBRUARY 27, 2009
ALCOHOL
Indiana House Passes Repeat-Offender Interlock Bill
The state House has unanimously approved HB 1020, a bill to require ignition interlock devices in the vehicles of repeat drunken drivers with a blood alcohol level above .15. (WIBC TV, IN) The bill was originally a first-offender mandate, but was amended in committee. HB 1020 has been transmitted to the Senate and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Wyoming House Passes Repeat-Offender Interlock Bill
On Thursday, the state House passed SB 88, a bill to require ignition interlock devices in the vehicles of repeat DUI offenders with blood alcohol levels of .15 or higher. (Associated Press) SB 88 has already been approved by the Senate, and all other interlock bills from earlier in the legislative session have died.
FOOD
Maine Menu Labeling Proposal to Be Introduced
House Speaker Hannah Pingree (D-North Haven) will introduce a state menu labeling bill that would require foodservice chains in the state with 15 or more locations nationwide to provide calorie information on menu boards and at drive thrus. Rep. Pingree is proposing the bill in order to address obesity. (Maine Public Broadcasting Network) The proposal has not yet been assigned a bill number.
LABOR/WAGE
Alaska Minimum Wage Hike and Indexing Bill Passes Senate Committee
SB 1, a bill to raise the state minimum wage to $8.75 and begin annual indexing increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on January 1, 2010, has passed the state Senate Labor and Commerce Committee. The bill is sponsored by three Senators on the Labor and Commerce Committee, and has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee next. (Alaska Journal) Alaska?s unemployment rate increased 19 percent from December 2007 to December 2008.
Rhode Island Minimum Wage Hike and Indexing Bill Introduced
HB 5233, a bill to raise the state minimum wage from $7.40 to $7.75 on July 1, 2009, has been introduced by 5 state Representatives. The bill would also begin annual indexing of the minimum wage to the CPI starting July 1, 2011. HB 5233 was heard in the House Labor Committee on Wednesday and is pending decision making. (Providence Journal, RI) Hopefully legislators take into account that Rhode Island?s unemployment rate has increased 92 percent from December 2007 to December 2008 when considering this mandate.
Mandated Paid Sick Leave Bill Introduced in Minnesota (Read This)
A bill to mandate up to 9 days of paid sick leave per year for almost all workers in Minnesota, the Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act, has been introduced. HB 612 (and companion bill SB 416) would require employers with 10 or more workers in the state to provide 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, for up to 72 hours of paid sick leave per year for employees. Employers with fewer than 10 employees would only have to provide 40 hours of paid sick leave per year. HB 612 was heard in the House Commerce and Labor Committee on Tuesday. (Workday Minnesota)
SMOKING
South Dakota House Passes Smoking Ban Bill
The state House approved a statewide smoking ban proposal on Monday by a 43-27 vote. HB 1420 would ban smoking in bars, video lottery casinos, and restaurants that serve liquor, and was also amended by the House to ban smoking in gambling halls. The bill now heads to the Senate (where another version of a smoking ban was defeated earlier this year).Senate Majority Leader Dave Knudson (R-Sioux Falls) says he will ?enthusiastically? support the House?s version of the smoking ban, but is ?cautiously optimistic? that it will pass. (Associated Press) South Dakota?s legislative session ends on March 30, 2009.
North Carolina Smoking Ban Bill Reintroduced
The state House Health Committee held a hearing on HB 2 (companion bill SB 205)--a bill to ban smoking in public, indoor workplaces, including restaurants and bars--on Thursday. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Hugh Holliman (D-Davidson), will be heard again on Tuesday. Previous smoking ban legislation failed in the House in both 2005 and 2007. (WRAL TV, NC)
Bill to Weaken Ohio Smoking Ban to be Introduced
State Sen. Bob Schuler (R-Cincinnati) will introduce, within the next two months, a bill to allow exemptions for the state smoking ban that went into effect in May of 2007. Sen. Schuler says he has heard from businesses in the state--like bowling alleys, bars, and private clubs?whose business has decreased since the ban was enacted. Sen. Schuler?s legislation is likely to allow exemptions to the ban for private clubs, family-owned and other small businesses. (Dayton Daily News, OH)
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