Washington state residents please read

[rramstad]

Hi everyone, and first, happy International Pipe Smoking Day!

On this day, take positive action, and let's do what we can to help support our rights and the rights of fellow Washington state cigar and pipe smokers.

House Bill 1683, the Cigar Bar and Cigar Lounge Bill, would allow for special permits to again allow smoking in tobacconists' shops and cigar bars, is currently being held in the House Ways & Means Committee.

To get the bill down the road to the next step, we need Chairman Ross Hunter to allow a vote on the bill and include it in his budget proposal.

Please take a moment to contact Rep. Hunter and express your desire to see Washington state allow adults to enjoy a legal product in a controlled responsible environment... and it wouldn't hurt to stress the revenues that the state would get, both from the permits themselves and from the increased business activity and sales of liquor. The legislature is trying right now to figure out how to balance the budget, and they should be looking at ALL possible sources of revenue.

Rep. Hunter can be reached via email at

ross.hunter@leg.wa.gov

and via phone at

(360) 786-7936 (Olympia)

or leave a message via the legislative hotline at

(800) 562-6000

Do it now! The session is short, and bills that make it out of committee earlier and are included in budget proposals have a much better chance of passing. Other cigar and pipe smokers thank you!

 

[BlindedByScience]

As sent:

Representative Hunter – Good afternoon.

I am writing to you and asking you to re-consider and pass HB 1683, the bill that would allow the re-creation of Cigar Bars / Cigar Lounges in WA State.

Consider that in no way does this law “remove” the smoking ban in WA State; rather it allows only for dedicated cigar bars and cigar lounges in retail tobacco stores. HB 1683 provides for tobacco licensing standards, a limited number of dedicated cigar venues; state of the art clean air systems, employee protection provisions, and it will add millions to Washington State revenues.

As a cigar enthusiast, I have three choices in WA State; tribal lands (where I will spend money that could go to local businesses), drive across the river to OR State and visit one of their cigar lounges (where I will spend money that could go to local businesses), or in my own home. This bill would allow the re-creation of places where I could smoke cigars in dedicated, controlled environments. It will add revenue to the venues that provide such facilities, and allow the enjoyment of an adult, legal pastime in environments that are traditionally not frequented by folks who choose other forms of recreation. Most people that don’t enjoy cigars rarely frequent cigar stores, for example.

As a taxpayer and voter, I urge your support of this bill.

My sincere regards –

The blog at the Kirkland Cigar Club also suggested copying copy Rep. Reuven Carlyle (reuven.carlyle@leg.wa.gov), the prime sponsor HB 1683, "....to show that his efforts to pass this legislation are appreciated and supported....". Makes sense to me.

Cross your fingers, WA State cigar smokers....!!!

Thanks for the heads up, Bob - B.B.S.

 

[rramstad]

Nice, well written. Thanks!

 

[rramstad]

If you haven't called and/or emailed yet, please do it today!

It seems we are getting some traction on this.

The executive summary is that the Senate budget includes the Senate version of this bill, and if Rep. Hunter includes the House bill in the House budget, there is a VERY good chance that this will become law when they reconcile the two budgets together... at that point, no one will want to remove the new legislation because they'd need to either come up with an alternate revenue source or more budget cuts.

So, once again, Rep. Hunter can be reached via email at

ross.hunter@leg.wa.gov

and via phone at

(360) 786-7936 (Olympia)

or leave a message via the legislative hotline at

(800) 562-6000

Thanks!

 

[Backslide]

Hope this goes well for you all in WA. :thumbs:



Jason

 

[lherzolite]

Thanks for posting this! I will definitely be emailing a letter.

 

[rramstad]

Earlier today someone else forwarded me an email from Rep. Hunter (included below).

The situation was definitely odd in that we had been told that the Senate budget would include the cigar lounge bill, and that we needed to put pressure on the House. Lo and behold, the Senate budget came out without the cigar lounge bill, which basically meant we were dead in the water. Some additional efforts were made, but ultimately, failed.

I get the feeling that the situation will not change without an initiative, which unfortunately we tried to do once before, and failed to even get enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Here's the note from Rep. Hunter:

Thank you for your message concerning HB1683 that would exempt cigar bars and retail tobacco shops from Washington’s Clean Indoor Air Act. In 2005 voters passed Initiative 901, which expanded a ban on smoking in public places to include schools, bars, taverns, bowling alleys, casinos, reception areas, at least 75 percent of the sleeping quarters in hotels and motels, and places of employment. In general, legislatures are reluctant to change or overturn initiatives brought by voters.

There were concerns about potential effects to employee health for those employed by cigar lounges expressed by many legislators, and there was not enough support to pass the bill this year.

Rep. Ross Hunter
Chair, Ways and Means
ross.hunter@leg.wa.gov

Read my blog at http://www.rosshunter.info

Capitol Campus
Olympia, WA 98504