Kick Butts Day on March 25th

This is a campaign created by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and helps to raise young adult's awareness about the dangers of smoking and second hand smoke. Great Resources!!!

Kick Butts click here - http://kickbuttsday.org/resources/downloads.php

GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES RESTAURANT SMOKING BAN

Lawmakers in Virginia have passed a partial ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. The measure restricts smoking to separately ventilated rooms in restaurants, to private clubs and to outdoor patios. The bill now goes to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, who supports it.

Some Key Points:
-The measure, SB1105, bans smoking in bars and restaurants except for private clubs, facilities with separate smoking areas equipped with independent ventilation systems and establishments that have open-air outdoor patios.

-Other provisions in the legislation would make it effective Dec. 1, 2009 and permit bar and restaurant employees to work outside designated smoking areas without facing professional punishment.

-That legislation, SB1106, would have made it illegal to smoke in a vehicle when a child is present and created a $100 penalty for violations.

Read the story here.

Senate rejects House changes that weaken anti-smoking bill
The Virginian-Pilot/ February 16, 2009

The Senate today rebuffed House amendments to a proposed statewide smoking ban for most bars and restaurants.

The bill’s patron, Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk, asked the Senate to reject the changes that the House of Delegates passed last week, calling them unacceptable.

One of the House amendments would have allowed smoking in any establishment during hours that they did not admit minors. Another removed a requirement that businesses install separate ventilation systems if they wish to provide a room for smokers; the amendment required only that a door separate the smoking room.

Northam said the amendments “basically were unacceptable” to a lot of the people who have worked on the proposed ban. The legislation carried some bipartisan support with endorsements from both Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and House Speaker William Howell, R-Stafford.

Northam said he believed lawmakers will be able to build support over the next few days for something closer to the original legislation.

The Senate complied with his request and rejected the House amendments by a vote of 11-28. The bill now goes back to the House.

The power shift is playing out in the trenches
The Virginian-Pilot/ February 15, 2009

By the time Del. Terry Kilgore finished gouging out exceptions to a proposed smoking ban last week, the bill couldn't have doused a cigarette in a typhoon.

Backed by a band of rural Republicans and Democrats, the far Southwest lawmaker enjoyed a fleeting victory. Kilgore believes the ban on smoking in restaurants and bars will pass despite his opposition, and the future promises fresh defeats.

In 2011, House and Senate districts will be adjusted to account for population shifts in the state. The balance of power will tilt more sharply toward suburban communities in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.

"Rural Virginia is probably on their last hurrah right now," said Kilgore, who lives the farthest from the Capitol of all 140 legislators. "We're going to be outnumbered big time after the next Census."

Read more: http://hamptonroads.com/2009/02/power-shift-playing-out-trenches

Americans for non smokers rights

Air Filtration"? That's Just Tobacco Companies Blowing Smoke Again. To read more click here:
http://www.no-smoke.org/getthefacts.php?id=15

Propossed cigarette tax will raise $155 million to help offset Medicaid budget shortfall

Hampton Roads has been blessed with a strong economy in recent years. Shipbuilding, cargo transfer and other industries have fueled strong economic growth that has helped many in our communities.

However, the effects of hard economic times are affecting the entire Commonwealth and Hampton roads especially. Cargo imports are down and the potential loss of an aircraft carrier threaten the region. More and more Virginians in the area are losing their jobs and turning to state services such as unemployment and Medicaid in order to survive. But the State is feeling the effects of the economy as well and can’t sustain its current levels of service.

The Governor has proposed a budget that cuts back on all core services, but hits Medicaid funding especially hard. The Governor's budget would reduce Medicaid reimbursements from the current 75 percent of cost to 70 percent of cost for inpatient services. And it gets worse. The Governor also offset further cuts by proposing a 30-cent tax increase on tobacco. Smoking costs Virginia's Medicaid program more than $400 million per year. The new proposal would offset that cost by raising an additional $155 million. Because Medicaid is a federal mandate, the federal government would match the state money dollar for dollar. Without the state money from the tobacco tax and the federal match, Medicaid stands to lose more than $300 million on top of what the Governor has already proposed cutting. That would drop Medicaid inpatient reimbursements down to 50 percent of cost. At 50 percent of cost, health providers in Hampton Roads would be forced to cut services and eventually lay off workers. It is estimated that more than 1,300 workers in health care and other industries across Eastern Virginia would be laid off if the tobacco tax, or its equivalent revenue, is not used to fund Medicaid. These workers are essential to providing all health care services in the area, and all Virginians would feel the effects.

Please act now to tell your Hampton Roads-area legislators that Medicaid must be funded in order to preserve access to health care in Virginia.Click the link below to log in and send your message:http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/vhha28199954.aspx