NC General Assembly Votes to Snuff out Smoking [06/20/06-4]
Excerpts from: Senate votes to snuff out smoking
By Mark Binker News and Record [06/20/06]
The "smoke ’em if you’ve got ’em" ethic that has pervaded the General Assembly buildings is about to turn into a "take your butt outside."
Senators gave their final blessing Monday to a bill that would outlaw smoking in the state legislative complex. They voted 45-1.
The House still must take up the measure. Members in that chamber seem largely in agreement.
"We have lots of kids coming through here, and we need to set a good example," said Rep. Laura Wiley, a High Point Republican.
The General Assembly or local governments already have stubbed out smoking in many places across North Carolina, including libraries, state prisons, museums, school buses, elevators and the like.
But the offices, corridors, meetings rooms and other nooks and crannies of the legislature’s buildings had been immune from smoking regulations.
Only in recent years were rules adopted that prohibited legislators from smoking on the House and Senate floors. Until its renovation this spring, the Senate chamber sported yellow glass ash trays tucked beside law books on low shelves in the back.
Rep. Maggie Jeffus, a Greensboro Democrat, recalled Monday night sitting next to and near fellow legislators who smoked on the House floor.
"I would sit there and sniffle and sneeze," said Jeffus, adding that she would be just as happy if smoking were banned from the legislative buildings.
In the Senate, all four members who represent part of Guilford County voted for the smoking ban.
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