In this issue:
1. Congressional Directory
2. The Smoke Police
3. Tribes Seek Injunction Against Tobacco Settlement
4. Urban Legends and Folklore
5. Smoking Lamp Is Still Lit In Cheery London
6. Risk Reassessment
7. Smokers' Rights: What You Can Do
8. We Are Everyday People
9. 800 # For Local or State Law Information
1. Congressional Directory: Congress.org.
State, alphabet, committee and leadership listings. Background, photos, staff, e-mail, links and more.
Members and Hill staffers, the legislative process and more. Search by ZIP Code, alphabetically, state or name search.
E-mail or print your letter to Congress. Find your recipient quickly with your ZIP Code.
Vote Spotlights and Bill Status Search. Associations and advocacy groups give you the skinny on members of
Congress on the set of issues and votes most important to that organization. See how your reps are scored by various groups.
2. The Smoke Police: Americans for Individual Rights.
Mid way through the event four of Fountain Valley’s Finest marched in ‘Lock Step’ through the rear door of the establishment
straight to the office area and ordered the owners and manager into the premise’s office, slammed the office door right in the
face of the OCN cameraman there to record the event...
3. Tribes Seek Injunction Against Tobacco Settlement: Reuters.
The suit argues that the settlement, reached last November between Big Tobacco and 46 states, does not provide for direct
payments to American Indians and infringes on tribal sovereignty.
4. Urban Legends and Folklore: By David Emery.
Best Anti-Hoax Resources and QuackWatch, Dr. Stephen Barrett's "Guide to Health Fraud, Quackery,
and Intelligent Decisions." Sound replies to medical misinformation you're likely to encounter on and off the Internet.
5. Smoking Lamp Is Still Lit In Cheery London:
By Sidney Zion. New York Daily News Online
6. Risk Reassessment: By Jacob Sullum.
Reason Magazine.
7. Smokers' Rights: What You Can Do:
Smokers With Attitude. At 25% of the adult population, American smokers outnumber Jews (2%),
Gays (6%) and Blacks (12%), yet the last three groups have won rights written into law.
8. We Are Everyday People:
*** Communist To The Core Gore? Team Infinity. ralph@TeamInfinity.com
*** Your About.com Guide to: Cigars: Janos Gaspar. -
Cuban Cigars? Five Ways to Deal With Habano Fever.
*** Canadian Toilets: By Dave Barry.
Canada has become a major supplier of illegal 3.5-gallon toilets. These toilets were banned by Congress in 1992 under the Energy
Policy and Conservation Act, which decreed that henceforth U.S. citizens had to buy 1.6-gallon toilets, which would conserve a
lot of water if they worked, which unfortunately most of them don't, the result being that U.S. citizens now spend more time flushing
their toilets than on all other forms of exercise combined...
9. For information about your local or state laws, call the Smokers Rights Action Line at 1-800-333-8683.
Thank you National Smokers Alliance Maine
In May, House Bill 185, which called for a 63-cent-per-pack increase in the state's 74-cents-per-pack tax on cigarettes, died in both the state House of Representatives and state Senate. Thank you for your efforts in the fight against the tax hike. Nebraska
The Nebraska State Legislature has adjourned for the year. No action was taken on LB 505, which would have increased the state tobacco tax from 34 cents to $1 per pack. Thank you for your efforts in fighting this measure. We will continue to monitor the legislature when it reconvenes for any new tobacco tax legislation. Maryland
Thank you for your efforts in the fight against Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening's proposal to raise the state cigarette tax by $1 per pack. After heated debate, the Maryland General Assembly passed a 30-cents-per-pack increase that will take effect July 1 of this year.
Tucson, Ariz.
Despite the protest of hundreds of business owners and citizens, the Tucson City Council voted 4 to 3 on April 12 to ban smoking in most city restaurants beginning Oct. 1 of this year. Bars are exempt. Restaurants must physically separate their smoking area and install ventilation systems that stop smoke from drifting into non-smoking areas. Restaurants that can show a 15 percent decline in business due to the ban may also be granted a hardship exemption.
Thank you for your continued help in creating this newsletter!
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