Pelosi Puts 'No Smoking' Sign Near House Floor (Makes Speaker's Lobby No-Smoking)

[matcom]

:hide:

<snip>

WASHINGTON -- New House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has snuffed out one of Congress' enduring prerogatives: the right to smoke near the floor of the House.

Pelosi announced Wednesday morning that smoking will no longer be allowed in the Speaker's Lobby. That's a room off the House floor where lawmakers often mingle during votes.

It's typically hazy with smoke, as it was last night during a House vote on anti-terror legislation.

Pelosi said "the days of smoke-filled rooms in the United States Capitol are over." Citing the dangers from secondhand smoke, the California Democrat said "Congress should lead by example."

Smoking is banned in most federal buildings.

http://www.wftv.com/health/10714527/detail.html

[MADem]

1. Well, that is gonna piss off the minority leader BIG TIME

That sumbitch smokes CONSTANTLY...English cigarettes too, some fancy brand...guess American tabbaky ain't good enough for him.

[demnan]

2. Way to go, Nancy

Nothing pisses me off more than to have my clothes smell like cigarettes. But John Boehner (aka, Mr. Cigarette to House staffers) won't like that much.

[Caoimhe]

3. Good for you, Madame Speaker!

It's about time.

[IA_Seth]

4. As a smoker...

I am all for it. If I can't smoke at work, in a restaurant, or even a bar in some cities...they shouldn't be able to smoke at our nation's capital.

[Blue_Roses]

5. Cool...

:rofl: Nothing like a woman to clean house:thumbsup:

[ClintonTyree]

6. I'm a smoker.....

and I don't have a problem with that. Smokers don't have the right to pollute other people's lungs with their smoke. I do hope that they WILL provide an area somewhere within the Capitol for smokers though. It works both ways. Non-smokers don't have the right to tell smokers that they can't smoke anywhere within the Capitol IF there's a well ventilated room designed for that very purpose.
I think the anti-smoking crusaders go a bit overboard sometimes. It's my body, if I want to be well smoked that my prerogative as long as they don't have to smell it. To ban smoking altogether "for my own good" is bulllshit and that I WILL NOT stand for. :)

[ellisonz]

13. Seconded.

:smoke:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

14. Why can't they smoke outside like EVERYONE ELSE?!

[underpants]

7. Checking in from the lounge with my two cents

[durrrty libby]

8. I'm amazed that smoking has been allowed up to this point

It just goes to further prove the hypocrisy of our lawmakers.

:spank: :spank: :spank:

[Midlodemocrat]

9. Non smoker, here. I think it is a good thing

from the aspect that smoking is banned in every other federal building. Allowing congresscritters to smoke inside the Capitol is sort of elitist, IMHO.

[hashibabba]

10. Good for you Nancy!! I don't really care if other people smoke,

as long as I don't have to inhale it with my bad lungs (partly from several cases of pneumonia, partly because of years of -- yes-- smoking). On the other hand, if you have a menthol, I'll follow you anywhere.

I don't think they should be able to smoke in their offices, either. Or only if they use one of those things that sucks the smoke out of the room. I mean, what about their guests coming in and having to inhale it? :shrug:

[bigwillq]

11. This smoker supports my Speaker.

:bounce:

[Blue-Jay]

12. Just make it illegal and arrest me already!

:smoke: