SMOKE FREE VIRGINIA RESTAURANTS

Advocates of smoke-free restaurants in Virginia, now is your chance to be heard.
Governor Tim Kaine proposed a statewide smoking ban in restaurants Monday to protect the health of patrons and workers.

Virginia, isn't it about time? Is it really fair for those of us who don't want to be exposed to smoke, or want our children to be exposed, to have to walk through clouds of smoke next to restaurants, such as those in Tyson's Corner? And how about those waiters and bartenders? They are forced to breathe harmful, cancer-causing smoke in order to keep their jobs. Restaurants like McLean Family Restaurant that have gone smoke-free have seen good results. More people are pleased than not. And everybody is healthier. Maryland has done it, D.C. has done it, come on, Virginia, lets go smoke-free in restaurants.

Lawmakers are going to have to hear from constituents for this to happen. They voted it down last year. Here's what happened: the General Assembly did pass legislation that would have required restaurants that allow smoking to post a "Smoking Permitted" sign on the door, and in return they would no longer have to offer a nonsmoking section. Kaine amended the bill to ban smoking in restaurants statewide. The House of Delegates voted 59-40 to reject the amendment, so Kaine vetoed the bill.