Tobacco lobby fumes over Senate vote

Publication Date: 2006-06-19

• Author:Kerra L. Bolton
• Publication:Asheville (NC) Citizen-Times

In a 45-2 vote, the state Senate agreed last week to ban smoking in the legislative buildings.

Sens. John Kerr and Hugh Webster, of Goldsboro and Burlington respectively, opposed the smoking ban.

Webster wanted to change the law to allow him to smoke in his office. But the idea failed in a 36-to-11 vote.

“We should have voted to ban chewing and dipping, too,” said Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, D-Fayettville.

The ban proposal irks some tobacco growers like Buster Norton in Madison County, who said taxes paid on tobacco products, the farm, equipment and fertilizer help pay for state programs and agencies.

“It’s a slap in the face,” Norton said. “Tobacco has supported this state for a long time. They’re (lawmakers) not very appreciative of that.”

The Senate ban now goes to the state House.