WOW!...Leave it up to the people...what a concept!
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St. Louis County drops smoking ban effort

By Phil Sutin
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Tuesday, Aug. 01 2006

CLAYTON

The St. Louis County Council on Tuesday ended an effort to ban smoking in most
indoor places in the county.

The council instead was considering a bill to require owners or operators of
bars, restaurants or casinos to post a sign that says whether their
establishments allow smoking, prohibit it or maintain special smoking areas.

Council Chairman Kurt Odenwald, R-Shrewsbury, and Councilman Skip Mange, R-Town
and Country, had introduced two bills - one to ban smoking in indoor places
with few exceptions, the other to put the issue on the Nov. 7 ballot.

After hearing nearly two hours of speeches, mainly from opponents of a smoking
ban, the council adopted an amendment to the anti-smoking bill to remove an
exemption for casinos. The council then adopted a second amendment that
substituted the sign provision for Odenwald's bill.

The votes on both amendments were 4-3. Councilman John Campisi, R-south St.
Louis County, voted in favor of both. He supported his three fellow Republicans
in adopting the casino exemption. He then joined the three Democrats on the
council to substitute the sign measure. Councilman Mike O'Mara, D-north St.
Louis County, sponsored the change.

After the meeting, Campisi said customers should have a right to choose whether
to patronize a smoke-filled or smoke-free business place. He said he voted for
Odenwald's amendment so people could see "what is being proposed."

Campisi was a co-owner of Mama Campisi's restaurant in the Hill neighborhood
until his family sold it in 2004. He said the owners allowed smoking there
because it was what customers wanted.

Odenwald said after the meeting that Tuesday's action showed the council has
four votes against an anti-smoking bill. He said his measure would have failed
some other way later.

I like it. Maybe because I smoke.

I'd smoke marijuana once in awhile
if it were legal too. But it ain't.

So I'll pull a cool drink from my
Jim Beam & Coca-Cola and draw
some smoke from my methol
cigarette...and watch the world go by.

When we stop global warming, military
adventure deaths and heart attack from
fast food...I'll quit...I promise.

Kentucky has already went smoke free in some city's, now they are trying to get Paducah ky smoke free. I guess might as well and get ready and go to the red lobster for the last time
I haven't had a bottle of jack in the house for 20 years but I sure could use one tonight back killing me,but that would be a 20 mile drive

I'm a menthol smoker to, but I don't go out of my way to make non-smokers uncomfortable. However...I'f they get in my face about my habit, I'll blow it in theirs.

last wee I stopped at one of the small convince stores it had cigarette signs all over the door with the price. I went in to get drink and snacks started to pay she started fanning said their no smoking in here I set every thing on the counter waked to the door and left, now if they had a sign that said no smoking I would have respected that