VFW Voices Are Heard
None by KCPW
Extending the Smoking Ban Deadline
(KCPW News) Some Utah lawmakers are unhappy with the bill passed last year, making VFWs and other fraternal organizations smoke-free on January 1st, 2007. Democratic Senator Ed Mayne is a member of a VFW post, and he supports a new measure that would let these groups permit indoor smoking until January 1st, 2009:"Groups like our fraternal organizations, the animal clubs, and stuff like that...you can't have those on a different standard, especially when you look through what they do in the community."
VFWs support many causes like Sub-For-Santa, American Legion youth baseball tournaments, Easter egg hunts, and elderly food programs. Bill Kristofferson of the American Legion says VFWs can't be as supportive if the new measure doesn't pass:
"Fourteen boys to Boys State - $350 a piece, each year. That money comes from what we can make out of our posts, and our operations of food, and the social part of it. And since this bill went into effect, we don't know whether we're going to be able to continue to sponsor a lot of the programs that we have."
According to the bill's sponsor, Republican Representative Curtis Oda, the extension to 2009 will provide sufficient transition time for VFWs and other fraternal organizations to adapt and build outdoor smoking patios.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Legislative Coverage, and 2007 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW
1. CB said:
Boy, I tell ya, the government is getting involved in controlling way too many private programs and buildings. If people CHOOSE to join a certain club they should know that there is smoking allowed there and they have made the free choice whether to go there or not. Its a different story when smoking is banned from public places. I agree with that because many times people don't have the choice to be subjected to smoking or not, such as an airport or hospital. Having said that though, I don't see how whether you can smoke at the VFW or not has anything to do with fundraising for good causes. Are they saying that only smokers are charitable or without the ability to smoke in their facilities, they won't sponsor charitable programs anymore??
Add your comment: