If you think your state is immune to the radical smoker-hostile forces running rampant in the rest of the country, think again. Search the net for your state and the word "smokefree." What you'll find will either scare you to death or make you mad enough to fight. When you're mad enough to fight, join us.

AMERICAN SMOKERS UNION ACTION ALERTS Here is what the anti's are doing. Are you going to let them get away with it? You may think that anti-tobacco ordinances are being enacted all over the country because the people want them. That's not true. It's because anti-tobacco organizations, well-funded with our tax money, come to town and create enough noise to make the elected officials BELIEVE the people want them. If we're going to stop this rampant trampling of our rights, we MUST fight back! Here's the place to start. Read THEIR "Talking Points" and see what we're up against. Let your voice be heard! Their voices are being heard--many of these actions already have hundreds of responses. We're playing catch-up, but we can do it if it's important enough to us.

WE INVITE MEMBERS OF OTHER INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS GROUPS TO JOIN OUR FIGHT, SMOKERS OR NOT! We're all in this together and the greater our numbers, the better our chance of success. If you care about your rights, join the ASU.

Note: Here are a few articles we've run across that need a response, but for which we have no address or contact name. If you can provide them, please contact the webmaster. *FEDERAL Senate Democrats are warning that they may add a series of anti-smoking amendments to the Central American relief bill if Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) does not remove her amendment to waive all federal claims to the tobacco settlement money. Democratic measures could include FDA authority to regulate nicotine, improved warning labels, and restrictions on tobacco industry marketing and advertising. Competing with Senator Hutchison's amendment is an amendment by Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) that would force states to spend a portion of the money on anti-smoking and other health and education-related initiatives. *MAINE UPDATE March 25, 1999&ldots;The Maine Senate followed the lead of the House and voted Wednesday to outlaw all smoking in Maine restaurants. Sen. Philip Harriman, R-Yarmouth, questioned why the ban did not extend to taverns so all workers would be protected, and suggested an amendment to that effect would be presented. The panel rejected the Maine Restaurant Association's recommendation that ventilation standards could be set for restaurants, bars and lounges in the state. *MARYLAND Although Maryland is expecting a larger than predicted budget surplus this year, legislators should not use that as an excuse to weaken the state's proposed cigarette tax increase, argue the editors of the WASHINGTON POST. "This tax proposal should be viewed more as a health issue than a way to turn a budget buck. If it works as intended, it shouldn't be a long-term money-raiser anyway. Its purpose is to discourage people from buying cigarettes, which is why dozens of lawmakers in both houses last fall formally endorsed a $1.50 increase in the tax..."   *FLORIDA UPDATE The state House has agreed to $30 million funding for the teen anti-tobacco "Truth" campaign after heavy pressure and lobbying by the American Cancer Society and other vested interests. Rep. Debby Sanderson was pilloried by the press for questioning the use of the $70 million spent by the teen campaign in the past 10 months. At first the FLA House budgeted no new funding for the program, but now have compromised to provide $30 million. Gov. Jeb Bush's budget calls for $61.5 million (a cut over the previous year) and the state Senate has budgeted $60 million (up from the $50 million they specified just weeks ago). Now there will be wheeling and dealing as the House, the Senate, and the Governor try to bring their respective budget proposals into agreement. Let's hope the abusive and wasteful teen campaign gets significantly less than $60 million of taxpayers' (yes, smokers are taxpayers) money. (by Wanda Hamilton posted on the NSA message board.) *OKLAHOMA Lawmakers May Ban Bubble Gum Cigars For those who are opposed to tobacco, bubble gum cigars are the politically correct way to celebrate a birth in an old-fashioned way. It's a new tradition that could pop as fast as an overblown bubble with passage of House Bill 1602, which passed out of the Senate Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday. "There shall be no nontobacco item sold in this state ... designed to resemble tobacco products, including but not limited to bubble gum cigars and candy cigarettes," reads the bill written by Rep. Ray Vaughn, R-Edmond. WHERE WILL IT END?     The AMERICAN SMOKERS UNION Needs You! The forces of anti-tobacco have a well-planned, well-executed, very well-funded (with OUR money) agenda, and if we sit on our hands now as we have done in the past, we're going to lose every right we've believed inalienable since the Constitution was written. Every time one small community, one county or one state falls to the nico-nazis, especially without a fight, there's another chink in the armor of our Bill of Rights. We're vulnerable and if we don't get organized they'll continue to run roughshod over us, taking away our liberties a little at a time. This is not a small thing--the very fabric of America is at stake. This country was not built so one group could have complete control over another, taxing them unmercifully, then using their own money to make them (us) outcasts in their own society. PLEASE, GET INVOLVED! Join the AMERICAN SMOKERS UNION

ANTIS WANT PREEMPTION REPEAL IN NEVADA! Simply put, preemption means that local communities cannot approve a smoker-hostile law that is worse than the statewide regulation. Twenty-nine states now have such laws. Nevada is one and has become one of the most important targets on the nico-nazis' lists. It may already be too late for Nevada, but if you don't want to have to fight every local jurisdiction for fairness, it's time to do something. Write or call your legislators, your governor, your county Board of Commissioners and your county Board of Health and tell them you don't want the future of your town in the hands of the nico-nazis. And don't forget to write the media. AB331 is up for a vote any day in Nevada. Call your representative today!   CINCINNATI, OHIO NEW! Do you really want restaurants in Cincinnati to be 100% smokefree? If not, make yourself heard. The antis certainly are. Robert Rinsky, PhD Chair Board of Health 3101 Burnet Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45229 FAX: 513-357-7290 SYRACUSE, NEW YORK NEW! FDon't let the nico-nazis make your life miserable. They want to make all restaurants in Syracuse 100% smokefree and smoker-hostile. Get in touch with the people who are sworn to represent you as well as the antis, and remind them that you're a citizen and a taxpayer, too. Honorable Matthew Driscoll President Common Council Office of the Common Council, Rm 314 Syracuse, NY 13202 FAX: 315-448-8423 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Chicago's Mayor and City Council are being urged to pass and support smoker-hostile 100% smokefree restaurant laws. Honorable Ed Smith Health Chair Chicago City Council 1138 West Montrose Avenue Chicago, IL 60613 Honorable Richard M. Daley Mayor City of Chicago 121 North LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60602 FAX: 773-784-2199     FAX: 312-744-2324 BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY Bergen County is being urged to pass a smoker-hostile, 100% smokefree restaurant law. Honorable Barbara Chadwick Board of Freeholders, Health Chair Bergen County Administration Building; 21 Main Street Hackensack, NJ 07601 FAX: 201-646-3540 SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY Somerset County is being urged to pass a smoker-hostile, 100% smokefree restaurant law. Honorable Rose C. McConnell Board of Freeholders, Health Chair Somerset County 20 Grove Street; P.O. Box 3000 Somerville, NJ 08876   FAX: 908-231-8754 HALIFAX, MASSACHUSETTS The Halifax Board of Health will hold its second public hearing on smoker-hostile restaurant regulations on March 31st. Honorable John Delano Chair Halifax Board of Health 400 Plymouth Street Halifax, MA 02338 FAX: 781-294-7684 TUCSON, ARIZONA The Tucson city council is considering requiring all restaurants to be smoke-free and smoker-hostile. A public hearing is scheduled on a proposal to change Tucson's current ordinance regulating smoking in public places. Contact the Mayor and City Council and attend a public hearing at 7:30 p.m., Monday, April 12th, in the City Hall Council Chambers, 255 W. Alameda St in Tucson. Bring your friends and neighbors, anyone who still believes in freedom. Tucson's smokefree ordinance for public places now contains an exemption for restaurants. A simple majority vote in the City Council can amend the ordinance to remove restaurants from the exemptions for smoking in public places. Hon. George Miller, Mayor and Members of the City Council City of Tucson 255 West Alameda, 10th Floor Tucson, AZ 85701 Mayor and Council Tucson City Council PO Box 27210 Tucson, AZ 85726-7120 FAX: 520-791-4017      FAX: 520-791-5348 WEST VIRGINIA--25% EXCISE TAX Governor Underwood has proposed a 25 percent excise tax on the wholesale price of smokeless tobacco products. The email address for the WV Legislators is cglagola@mail.wvnet.edu. In the "subject" box you must put your legislator's name. If you do not know your legislators' names, you can find them at conservativeusa.com. (Before 4/16/99) MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND Montgomery County, the largest county in Maryland, is considering 100% smokefree restaurant legislation,introduced by Council president Ike Leggett and two co-sponsors (Phil Andrews and Blair Ewing). (Before 6/30/99) Honorable Isiah Leggett President and Members of the Montgomery County Council 100 Maryland Avenue Rockville, MD 20850 FAX: 301-217-7989 BEAVERTON, OREGON The Beaverton City Council is debating making workplaces 100% smokefree. Honorable Rob Drake Mayor City of Beaverton PO Box 4755 Beaverton, OR 97006 Wes Yuen City Councilor City of Beaverton PO Box 4755 Beaverton, OR 97006 Cathy Stanton City Councilor Forest Soth Councilor Beaverton Valley Times Editor Times Publications PO Box 370 Beaverton, OR 97005 Editor The Oregonian 1320 SW Broadway Portland, OR 97201 FAX: 503-526-2479     FAX: 503-526-2479           FAX: 503-620-3433     FAX: 503-294-4179 SENATOR VOLKER--TOBACCO PROTECTION BILL A coalition of more than 700 business and insurance companies have introduced A.10788/S.6661, a bill which holds people accountable for their own actions and keeps them from suing corporations like the tobacco companies. Contact Senator Volker and Assemblyman Morelle. (Before 6/30/99) The Honorable Dale Volker Chair, Senate Codes Committee New York State Senate Legislative Office Building, Rm 708 Albany, N.Y. 12247 The Honorable Joseph Morelle New York State Assembly Legislative Office Building, Rm 626 Albany, N.Y. 12248 FAX: 518-426-6949     FAX: 518-455-5647 WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT Westport is considering smokefree restaurant legislation. Judy Nelson Director of Health Westport Board of Health 180 Bayberry Lane Westport, CT 06880 FAX: 203-221-7199 HONOLULU, HAWAII Honolulu is considering smokefree restaurant legislation. Honorable Mufi Hannenmann, Chair and Members of the City Council Honolulu City Council 530 South King Street; Room 202 Honolulu, HI 96813 FAX: 808-523-4220 AURORA, COLORADO Aurora is considering smokefree workplace legislation. Honorable Paul E. Tauer, Mayor and Members of the City Council City of Aurora 1470 S. Havana Street Aurora, CO 80012 FAX: 303-739-7594 MONTROSE, COLORADO Last year, citizens in Montrose, Colorado, asked the City Council to enact a clean indoor air ordinance to provide smokefree public places. The City Council turned them down. (From the anti's talking points: In the meantime, the National Smokers Alliance, a Virginia-based front group for Philip Morris, has worked with restaurateurs to introduce a "Red Light, Green Light" ordinance in the Montrose City Council. This ordinance, created by the National Smokers Alliance and Philip Morris, only requires businesses to post signs that say "smoking is allowed" or "smoking is not allowed" inside their businesses. It is a sneaky, deceptive sham that does nothing to protect employees and patrons from the toxins in tobacco smoke.) Honorable William F. Cooper, Mayor and Members of the City Council City of Montrose P.O. Box 790 Montrose, CO 81402 FAX: 970-240-1493 CALIFORNIA--REPEAL SMOKEFREE BAR LAW The California State Assembly will be considering legislation sponsored by the NSA to overturn the smokefree bars law. Let them know we support AB1216. Smokers are citizens of this once-great country and we pay more taxes than any other single group, individually and collectively. These people are supposed to represent us, too. If not, then who will? Honorable Martin Gallegos Member, Labor & Employment Committee California State Assembly State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814  FAX: 916-319-2157 DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK The Dutchess County Board of Health has proposed regulations restricting smoking in most indoor places, including the workplace. Harry Lynch President Dutchess County Board of Health 387 Main Street Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 FAX: 914-486-3447 NEW YORK STATE Now that New York has won $25 billion over the next 25 years from the tobacco cartel, the New York legislature must decide how to spend it. The antis are urging the legislature to spend the money on reducing another generation of "tobacco addiction and lung cancer" by advertising against smokers. New York's cigarette tax used to be one of the highest in the nation. Now many states are higher. The anti's are urging New York's Governor George Pataki to raise the cigarette tax again. Honorable George Pataki Governor State of New York Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224 FAX: 518-474-1513 NEW YORK CITY The antis are urging Speaker Vallone to strengthen NYC Smoke Free Air law which exempts restaurants with 35 or fewer seats and the bar area of restaurants. It also exempts taverns, night clubs, and workplace offices when less than 4 people are present. Honorable Peter F. Vallone Speaker New York City Council City Hall New York, NY 10007 FAX: 212-788-7207   SPEAKER HASTERT NEEDS SUPPORT The new Speaker of the United States Congress, Dennis Hastert, has been a strong supporter of pro-tobacco legislation. The antis are demanding that he stop. The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert Speaker United States House of Representatives 2241 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 FAX: 202-225-0697 DISNEYLAND (CA) AND DISNEY WORLD (FLA) Disneyland and Disney World are family-friendly, magical worlds. The antis are trying to make them smoke-free. Michael Eisner Chairman Walt Disney Company 500 South Buena Vista Street Burbank, CA 91521  FAX: 818-560-1300 AIRPORTS The National Smokers Alliance are encouraging smokefree airports to add smoking lounges and attempting to prevent others from going smokefree. Here is the address for LAX. Contact webmaster at smokersunion@hotmail.com for your airport contact name and address if you can't find it. John Driscoll City of Los Angeles 1 World Way P.O. Box 92216 Los Angeles, CA 90009-2216 FAX: 310-646-0523 NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK Nassau County's smokefree restaurant bill excludes restaurants with less than 50 seats, and the bar area of all Restaurants. The anti's are attempting to get this changed to a 100% smokefree policy. Honorable Vincent T. Muscarella Health Chair Nassau County Legislature 1 West Street Mineola, NY 11501 FAX: 516-571-6235 SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK Although there is no legislation pending in Suffolk County right now, if Nassau County falls to the anti's, it won't be long before there is. Let's pre-empt the forces of evil by writing to the leaders named below. Mr. Gaffney is not sympathetic to our cause, having vetoed a bill which would have extended indefinitely the previously-existing smoking restrictions that allowed for smoking and non-smoking sections in restaurants, thereby allowing the current, Draconian laws to take effect. Dr. Zaki probably feels the same. The Honorable Robert J. Gaffney Suffolk County Executive H. Lee Dennison Building 100 Veterans Memorial Highway P.O. Box 6100 Hauppauge, New York 11788 Mahfouz H. Zaki, MD, DrPH (sic) Director Suffolk County Div. of Public Health 225 Rabro Drive Hauppauge, New York 11788 (516) 853-4000 Click here to read the anti's "Talking Points" so you'll be able to head them off at the pass.

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