Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 25, 1993 TAG: 9310280361
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: HILTON OLIVER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Environmental Protection Agency has now labeled tobacco smoke a Class-A carcinogen on the same level as asbestos. While the New York City School Board flatly refused to open public schools for several weeks this year because of the asbestos leaks, our General Assembly has failed to deal with an equally severe problem.
Del. C. Richard Cranwell has been shockingly insensitive to this problem. When a bill was introduced last session to strengthen the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act, Del. Cranwell was instrumental in weakening it in committee, making several flippant remarks about how secondhand smoke didn't bother him and he did not consider it a serious health hazard. Perhaps his nonsmoking constituents who suffer agony from public smoking could inform and educate him on reality.
Sens. Malfourd W. Trumbo and Jackson E. Reasor Jr. sold out totally to the tobacco lobby. Both voted against a measure to ban smoking in supermarkets and rest rooms, and both voted against raising the Virginia cigarette tax to 20 cents per pack, although the state's tax is the lowest in the nation. Both also voted for the ``smoker's rights'' bill that would have elevated smoking to a civil right.
Sen. Trumbo's actions seem quite hypocritical, since he's a former president of the Botetourt County Heart Association.
Sen. J. Brandon Bell voted for smoke-free supermarkets and rest rooms in committee, but reversed himself on the floor vote. He also voted against the 20-cent tax increase, although he did oppose the ``smoker's rights'' bill. Why so indecisive?
People who believe that legislators should support them rather than the tobacco lobby should know that some of their lawmakers are not doing very well.
\ Hilton Oliver of Virginia Beach is president of the Virginia Group to Alleviate Smoking in Public.
by CNB