MORE OF PATRICK REYNOLDS’ REMARKS

“Banning smoking 100% from most workplaces is an idea whose time has come. 1522 US cities now have laws regulating tobacco. That number would be much higher, except for the fact that many State legislatures, lobbied heavily by the tobacco industry, have passed watered-down Statewide smoking laws. Many of these contain a clause preempting cities from passing their own 100% bans at the local level. Florida was the first State to pass pre-emption, in 1985-86. One of the most important battles before us now is to repeal preemption in the legislatures which have passed it — and definitely, to place more citizens’ initiatives on the ballot in other States, which also have unresponsive elected officials. Gasp of Florida and others have tried to get such a law passed for years, without success.”

“California passed the first 100% Statewide smoking ban in 1994. It bans smoking 100% from restaurants, and starting in 1998, from free-standing bars and nightclubs as well. Initially
California’s smoking ban was controversial, but today it’s widely accepted, and is in fact one of the most popular laws in the State.

“In June, Delaware’s legislature also passed a 100% Statewide smoking ban, which will go into effect November 27th. Florida would become the third State to have a 100% Statewide smoking ban.

“The tobacco industry, with its campaign contributions and well connected lobbyists, has been far too influential over those presently in power in Tallahassee. If Amendment 6 fails, Big Tobacco wins.”

Related research for fact checking:

Tobacco Industry Political Power and Influence in Florida From 1979 to 1999 – Executive Summary
https://www.library.ucsf.edu/

“Acclaimed Florida Anti-Tobacco Ad Campaign Slashed” — A footnoted report from Tobacco Control Update magazine, Northeastern University, Boston

’Truth’ Ads Suffer from Budget Cuts – Jacksonville Times Union, Dec 30, 2001
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/123001/met_8213790.html

Anti-Smoking Campaign Shows Dramatic Results – Washington Post, March 1, 2000
http://www.gaspforair.org/gasp/

Philip Morris is the leading campaign contributor to Republicans in federal elections during the 2001-02 election cycle, giving $2,666,163 (as of October 2), according to a new report by the Center for Responsive Politics. Philip Morris also gave $537,638 to Democrats during the 2001-02 cycle. http://www.opensecrets.org/pubs/toporgs/appendix.asp
(See No. 5 on this page.)

Philip Morris has also been the leading overall campaign contributor to Republicans in federal elections since 1989, giving $14,300,228. Political giving by Phillip Morris since 1990:
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.asp?Order=A&View=P

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/summary.asp?ID=D000000067&Name=Philip+Morris

An October, 2002 report released by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and Common Cause reveals that the tobacco industry has so far contributed more than $7.3 million in soft money and political action committee contributions to federal candidates, political parties and political committees during the 2001-02 election cycle
https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/021022/180/2hv24.html

Campaign contribution data for each federal candidate is available at: http://www.opensecrets.org/

Past press releases from Patrick Reynolds’ group https://tobaccofree.org/news/

CONTACTS reccomended for fact checking, statistics and research:

Tim Filler, Americans for NonSmokers’ Rights
Office: (510)841-3032

Elizabeth Lancet, Statistics officer, American Lung Association, National Headquarters, NYC (212)315-8826
Ms. Lancet can provide studies which back up statistics.