Supervisors voice support for smoking legislation

Publication Date: 2008-11-17

• Author:Lerone Graham
• Publication:Roanoke (VA) Times & World News

Gov. Tim Kaine has not decided whether to push for new regulation in '09.

Montgomery County supervisors gave their support to statewide legislation banning smoking in public places but will not go so far as to consider a smaller-scale ban themselves.

The Virginians for a Healthy Future Coalition aims to garner support from Virginia localities to restrict smoking in all public buildings with its campaign to improve communities' health by reducing the use of tobacco products.

At Wednesday's meeting, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution in support of smoke-free indoor air legislation, citing health reasons outlined by the coalition.

The resolution calls for either statewide smoke-free air legislation or legislation that would give localities the power to enact bans of their own...

In recent years, the Virginia Senate passed four different bills aimed at restricting smoking in public places, but they were killed in a House of Delegates subcommittee. The measures included a bill that would ban smoking in restaurants and bars and another that would allow localities to pass ordinances regulating smoking within their boundaries.

Gov. Tim Kaine led the charge for a restaurant smoking ban last year and said Wednesday that "my support for it is very strong."