Though Democrats clearly favored yes, and GOP favored no, there was a healthy mix.  Very odd.

Im really disappointed - I really wish the will of the people was supported.  Maybe its time for a tobacco donation watch?

The language of the ban was overreaching and ridiculous.

I am very happy it didn't pass.

Banning smoking in restaurants was supported 2:1 by Virginians.  That's a pretty hefty margin...in an election, I believe it would be known as a "landslide."

those of us who don't like their freedoms taken away one by one.  Whether or not I personally decide whether to light up something legal is irrelevant to me.

The bill was over-reaching and ridiculous.  Of those that I know, there was no support.  I'm in NOVA, and have to assume that the closer you get to Tobacco Country USA in SW VA, that the support was even less.

All I know is I'm pleased with the result.  But I normally am not guided by what's PC or not PC.

I wonder how this will play out in next year's elections.  I hope that candidates in NOVA make it an issue. 

Congratulations to the Democrats that didn't vote for this ban!  It was much too broad to include all places that serve food.  This would have included all bars, private parties, etc...  I'm sure it was a difficult decision to vote against this.  We should work on making restaurants/bars Smoking Sections more separate from the rest of us that don't want second hand smoke during our meals.

Separate sections for smoking and non-smoking don't work.  Can't tell you how many times I've changed seats because the smoke is drifting over the "barrier".  Besides, the servers, hostesses, bus people are all exposed to second hand smoke on a regular basis.  What about them?  Maybe its time to vote with our feet and not patronize any establishment that is not smoke free. 

The "this will apply to pushcarts and wedding receptions!" hysteria was BS put out by Del. Griffith, who was not only against the smoking ban, but is against requiring nonsmoking sections in restaurants.

The Assembly overturned two of Kaine's vetoes on capital punishment. Looks like Virginia wants to be more like Texas in expanding this barbaric and vindictive political tool mockingly called an institution of justice.

Yeesh, we can't find total Democratic support for asking people to just go outside to light up?  Yeesh.  I'm gonna have to wonder what percentage of the Democrats who voted yes are smokers.

It is such a joke to think that smoking sections in restaurants are helpful. When you smoke in a confined area the smoke permeates everything...carpeting, fabrics, clothing. Ride in a smoker's car. The stench is horrific. The toxins that are left behind in upholstery, clothes etc. are powerful enough to trigger asthma attacks. Second-hand smoke can contribute to ear infections as well.
There is NO place for smoking in any kind of public establishment at all.It's dangerous for adults but especially hazardous for children.

Every single delegate in SW Virgina failed us.  No matter the party.  They failed.  I don't have words.  It's bad enough they deny us clean air to breathe.  But, as the rest of the country moves forward, they are pushing us BACKWARDS.  At least we had nonsmoking areas before.  Now they are not even required. And they did this for tobacco?  Do they not represent real people?

I hereby will spend all my restaurant dollars out of the area and Virginia. I am furthermore symbolically annexing myself to Northern Virginia.  And I hereby declare my loyalty to NOVA Dems. 

I am let down some by the Dems who voted against this ban, but with a name like Phillips was anybody surprised by that one.

I don't patronize restaurants where I can't be sure of a pretty much smoke free environment.  But I remember when we were all horrified that the work environment was going smoke free and we would have to go outside.  (I am a former smoker.)  I have to say I didn't read the language but generically I could have lived with a ban on smoking in restaurants.  I might actually have spent more money on them.

The hospitality industry is not the source of the hazard that is smoking and the toxic emissions it generates.  People who smoke are the cause of that hazard.  Why write all these regulations around the source of the issue?  It seems most efficient to just ban smoking outright.  I can't figure out why all the restaurant ban supporters are beating around the bush on this.  Why not ban smoking?  Why not add tobacco to the list of controlled substances?

So can I assume all the people devastated that Virginia didn't enforce a ban on smoking in all places where food is served -- even outdoor carts - are NOT supportive of the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes?

Or would you only support the pill form of THC?

Washington County has more tobacco farms than any other county in Virginia. Del. Joe Johnson represents us with courage:

Joe,

Thank you for supporting the Governor's amendments to ban smoking in public restaurants. This was a bold attempt to improve the public health of patrons, including children, and thousands of "captive" restaurant employees who have no choice to avoid working in currently smoke-polluted workplaces, unless they leave their jobs.

As the only delegate west of the Blue Ridge to support the Governor's amendments and as a representative from the Burley Belt, your vote was courageous and far-sighted. I am really proud of you.

RS

That is the way to do it.  Non-smokers should go to non-smoking restaurants and bars.  They're out there and as there are so many people who want to been in non-smoking places, I'm sure the non-smokers will bring them good business 

The Down Home in Johnson City, Tennessee has been non-smoking for 15 years and they do just fine.  Most of the people who work there smoke and they go outside and smoke with the customers.  Though I'm a smoker, when I'm on the road with my band, there's a no smoking in the van. 

I've been against a total ban, which is what we have here in Louisville.  I realize this issue is hung on the worker's health hook, but that's just the legal hook.  If you don't like a bar's policy, go to another bar.  That should be so simple and so much easier.  As tobacco is a legal product and I believe too many freedoms are being eroded already, I don't like these bans and they will most certainly lead to other bans we liberals won't like nearly as well. 

I've never understood why non-smokers go into smoking restaurants and bars. Right now in Louisville, most restaurants and many bars are already non-smoking, even thogh the ban doesn't begin until July 1.  Why isn't that enough for people.  If the bartenders and waiters smoke, as many do, why should nonsmokers have the power to shut off smoking everywhere.  And I see people all the time who want legal pot, but want to outlaw tobacco.  What's the deal on that line of thinking. 

It's all just too much government for me, but I'm sorta an odd duck on these personal freedom issue and wish we could find some middle ground, where non-smokers had their own bars and so did smokers.  Too much to ask, I guess--no matter which side you're on. 

I've alway believed a bar owner should be able to make their own rules and let the marketplace decide the outcome.  As more people

the actual incoming comments they were getting from the individual public ran pretty close to 50/50 in favor/against the ban. However, in a critical election year for many of the new "freshman" NoVa delegates, the endorsements from the various chambers of commerce and the financial support by the area business community is extremely important. ALL the chambers of commerce at least in the Fairfax area came down hard against the ban as it was written. The signage that will be required to be posted as to the whether the establishment allows smoking is a small step, but a very visible one to those who are concerned about it. Next year for those that survive the election in November, you have to believe they will have a chance to vote with their hearts and minds and not based on basic survival instincts on a single bill. Watch for local governments like Alexandria City moving forward where they already have a vote that is more individual voter oriented, rather than the "power brokers" at the state and national levels.

As for any parallels on the transportation bill as modified by Tim Kaine, the business community as well as the general public have spoken loud that they wanted a bill to start the process THIS YEAR.  That doesn't say that next year the laws that which have been changed this year won't be changed further in a hopefully much more "Democratic" General Assembly to reflect a more appropriate result. As it was explained to me by several senior politicians in the last couple of weeks, you have to pick your battles and the expected results to make the best decision for a complex consensus. Otherwise, you end up doing just like previous years where the entire outcome is one-sided to the GOP.

This is just one of those situations where we have to wait for next year on transportation and tobacco.

Actually, a lot of good bills were killed this year in committee.

We've got to get that majority changed, even in one house.

when they have to work in smoking restaurants, etc.?  Don't know, just curious? 

Although everyone said "It [smoking ban] will never fly," both these contries have banned smoking in public places--countries with a heavy smoking population.  Why did the law pass there?  Tobacco isn't grown in either country and lung disease is very costly to the socialized medicine system.  I have never smoked--hate the stink, health risks, and cost of cigarettes--and I don't give my money to establishments that permit smoking.  The solution is simple--if the place stinks, go elsewhere.