Just got an alert from Smokefree Virginia Now:The smoke free air bills are still alive and will be voted on in the ABC/Gaming subcommittee THIS THURSDAY, February 14, 2008.Just a handful delegates, hand-picked by the extremist Republican leadership, must not be allowed to make decisions that affect the health of all 7,078,515 Virginians.The Chairman of the ABC/ Gaming subcommittee personally does not like the idea of telling restaurant owners what to do, has publicly stated in the press he will kill the bills in subcommittee, thus not allowing the full committee to vote on the bills.
"They're all in the tank, we killed them all. If the restaurants want to be nonsmoking, let them put signs [up]," Gear said. "We're waiting on the Senate bills so we can kill those."
The members of the House General Laws Committee have the ability to reject the subcommittee's recommendation and revive the smokefree legislation. They need to hear from you right now.
First, the Smoky Seven -- the delegates on the ABC/Gaming Subcommittee:
* Del. Watkins Abbitt (I) - DelWAbbitt@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1059If your delegate is on the ABC/Gaming Subcommittee, it's critical that you contact them, identify yourself as a constituent, and let them know that regardless of where they stand on the issue, this legislation at least deserves a hearing before the full committee.
Represents: Albemarle (part), Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna (part), Nelson, and Prince Edward (part)* Del. Dave Albo (R) - DelDAlbo@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1042
Represents: County of Fairfax (part)* Del. Dan Bowling (D) - DelDBowling@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1003
Represents: Counties of Buchanan, Russell (part), and Tazewell (part)* Del. John Cosgrove (R) - DelJCosgrove@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1078
Represents:City of Chesapeake (part)* Del. Thomas Gear (R) - DelTGear@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1091
Represents:County of York (part); Cities of Hampton (part) and Poquoson* Del. Glenn Oder (R) - DelGOder@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1094
Represents: City of Newport News (part)* Del. Thomas Wright (R) - DelTWright@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1061
Represents: Counties of Amelia, Brunswick (part), Lunenburg (part), Mecklenburg, and Nottoway (part)
Now, the rest of the delegates on the House General Laws committee:
Del. Chris Jones (R) - DelCJones@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1076If your delegate is on either of the above lists, he or she needs to hear from you today! But even if you're not a direct constituent, a call or email from a concerned Virginian (and for the Dems, from a concerned Virginia Democrat) can't do anything but help.
Represents: Cities of Chesapeake (part) and Suffolk (part)Del. Bill Carrico (R) - DelCCarrico@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1005
Represents: Counties of Carroll (part), Grayson,Smyth (part), and Wythe (part); City of GalaxDel. Edward Scott (R) - DelEScott@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1030
Represents: Counties of Culpeper, Madison, and Orange (part)Del. Sal Iaquinto (R) - DelSIaquinto@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1084
Represents: City of Virginia Beach (part)Del. Todd Gilbert (R) - DelTGilbert@House.state.va.us; (804) 698-1015
Represents: Counties of Page, Rappahannock, Rockingham (part), and ShenandoahDel. Jackson Miller (R) - DelJMiller@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1087
Represents: County of Prince William (part); Cities of Manassas and Manassas ParkDel. Bud Phillips (D) - DelBPhillips@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1002
Represents: Counties of Dickenson, Russell (part), and Wise (part); City of NortonDel. Bill Barlow (D) - DelWBarlow@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1064
Respresents: Counties of Isle of Wight (part), James City (part), Southampton (part), and Surry; Cities of Franklin (part) and WilliamsburgDel. Robert Hull (D) - DelRHull@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1038
Represents: County of Fairfax (part)Del. Jeion Ward (D) - DelJWard@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1092
Represents: City of Hampton (part)Del. Rosalyn Dance (D) - DelRDance@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1063
Represents: Counties of Chesterfield (part) and Dinwiddie; City of PetersburgDel. Roslyn Tyler (D) - DelRTyler@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1075
Represents: Counties of Brunswick (part), Greensville, Isle of Wight (part), Lunenburg (part), Southampton (part), and Sussex; Cities of Emporia and Franklin (part)Del. David Bulova (D) - DelDBulova@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1037
Represents: County of Fairfax (part); City of FairfaxDel. Al Eisenberg (D) - DelAEisenberg@house.state.va.us; (804) 698-1047
Represents: County of Arlington (part)
The Republican leadership may not let this legislation get to a final vote in front of the full House, never mind pass. But our representatives who support smokefree legislation need to keep fighting until the very last vote to make sure our voices are heard and our health is protected.
Special thanks to the staff in the offices of Del. Bulova and Del. Eisenberg who took the time to walk The Green Miles through the politics and process of this legislation!
Also? I adore "Smoky Seven." I may have to borrow that sometime! It still works, because we can replace Del. Oder with Del. Suit.