Smoking Ban: Great Work by David Englin, Tim Kaine, Anti-Smoking Groups

I just got back from a few days in California and was pleased to see a long, LOOOOONG overdue ban on smoking in bars and restaurants having passed here in Virginia! According to Del. David Englin, commenting on NLS, this bill is "actually slightly stronger than the original compromise:"

It includes two amendments from the American Lung Association that improve the "smoking room" provision, it adds local health departments as an inspecting authority, and it adds a provision stating that wait staff and bus staff shall not be required to work in a "smoking room" without their consent.

Nice work by all involved, including David Englin - one of the strongest progressives in the House of Delegates - and Tim Kaine, who NLS says now "has a legacy."

For the record, the House vote was 60-39 in favor (39 Dem's voted yes, 6 voted no) and 27-13 in the Senate (20 Dem's voted yes, 1 voted no). Nice work by David Englin, Tim Kaine, the anti-smoking groups, and everyone who made this happen. Another sign of a changing Commonwealth and great news for all Virginians!