Thursday, July 07 2011
The Opposition Will Be Back, but This Victory Sends a Message to the Nation
By Glynn Loope & Brian Berman | CRA
By all appearances, one of the worst smoking ban expansion proposals in the nation has been defeated.
There are reports of the California Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization, which has purview over tobacco legislation, defeating SB 575 for the year. The bill would have closed all existing exemptions to the state's already restrictive anti-smoking measures.
In a concerted effort by Cigar Rights of America, the
International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association, and Cigar Association of America, the legislation, though amended in the California Senate to exempt
cigar shops and private clubs, would have set a horrid national precedent that would most assuredly have spread to other parts of the nation.The
Cigar Rights of America national membership provided over 33,000 contact impressions via its new online petition system as the SB 575 was heard in the Senate and then Assembly committees. The petitions seek to grow the impact of the cigar enthusiast voice in local, state and federal affairs on legislation affecting our passion for a great cigar. This victory sends a message to not only California, but the country.
However, it is California. The opposition will be back, and CRA will continue to diligently monitor the state legislature for any attempt to revisit this issue - and they will.
CRA would like to thank all of its members that signed the online petition, and contributed to this victory for the cause.
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