H.R.6571 : To prohibit smoking near executive, legislative, and judicial branch buildings and entryways.
Sponsor: Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] (introduced 7/22/2008 ) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Transportation and Infrastructure; House Administration; House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2008 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Now, I think that smoking is a dirty, disgusting habit and don’t want myself or my family exposed to the crap that other people are exhaling or be subjected to the smoke and fumes that spew forth as they casually hold their cigarettes. That said, people should have the right to suck on their cancer sticks in places where they will not infringe upon the rights of others to breath clean, fresh air. This bill goes entirely too far.
Barry Obama auditioning for the role of Smoker In Chief
“[E]xecutive, legislative, and judicial branch”? Those are the ONLY branches of government and every government building or agency falls under one of them. So, this bill can only be interpreted to being a federal government-wide ban on smoking “near” any federal building and entryway to such a building. I get what this congressman is going after — the gaggle of federal employees who congregate just outside the front door of their building to take smoke breaks. But so long as they are not in a confined space where others are forced to breath in their smoke, then I don’t have a problem with them.
Filed under: Congress, Federal Government
Rep. Engel has hated smokers for years – and probably for good reason. When I worked on the Hill my boss was a smoker, a Congressman in the office next to us was a cigar smoker, as was the member across the hall from him. Directly across the hall from my office was Rep. Engel’s office. Needless to say he didn’t like his neighbors very much.
He loved the idea of getting his Rayburn suite, until he met his neighbors. Back in those days (and I think probably still today) Members of Congress could smoke in their offices. He tried for years to get rules passed that forbid smoking in congressional buildings including members.
That is probably the reason he spells out Legislative buildings in his legislation. After all if you ask a Congressman – they are above the Government – not a part of it.