Tobacco Articles: state DC

Shia LaBeouf Should Quit Smoking

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

During filming on location of “Transformers 2”, Shia LaBeouf snuck a cigarette in the men’s john at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum – setting off blaring smoke detector alarms. Shia put out the ciggie just as museum guards burst in, but his soggy butt was seen floating in the toilet bowl. He endured a stern lecture, topped by a warning he’d be ejected from the museum if he lit up again. . . .

Comment by Anonymous I work at NASM and was here for filming, and our smoke detectors do not work in a way in which a cigarette would set off an alarm (if there was a fire, yes) I definitely would know if this incident occured, and it didn't.

Lautenberg Secures Ban on Cigarette Sales in Senate Shops: Sens. Harkin, Durbin, Brown and Reed Join NJ Sen. in Effort to Ban Tobacco Product Sales on Senate Property

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today announced that cigarettes and other tobacco products would no longer be sold in Senate sundry shops after January 1, 2008. "The Senate was operating as a discount cigarette outlet. It was time to shut it down," said Sen. Lautenberg. Sen. Lautenberg joined Sens. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Jack Reed (D-RI) sent a letter to Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) on August 4 requesting that Senate sundry shops no longer sell tobacco products. On November 1, Sen. Feinstein issued a letter banning the sale of any tobacco products at sundry shops. Sen. Feinstein is Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, the panel charged with overseeing sundry products sold in Senate restaurants and stores.

Lautenberg Applauds Closure Of Smoking Rooms In Senate Office Buildings: N.J. Sen. Says Smoking Ban Will Protect Health of Senate Employees, Visitors and Make Senate a Leader in Going Smoke-Free

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) applauded action by the Senate Rules Committee to close two smoking rooms in Senate office buildings, a move that will protect the health of Senate staff and U.S. Capitol visitors alike. The closure takes effect today and makes the Senate office buildings some of the first buildings on Capitol Hill to be completely smoke-free. “Congress should be setting an example when it comes to fighting the health risks of smoking and second-hand smoke. Closing down the smoking rooms and our recent ban on tobacco sales in the Senate are critical steps that will improve the health of those who visit and work in the Senate,” Sen. Lautenberg said. “I want to thank Chairman Feinstein for working with me to keep those who work and visit here safer.” In August, Lautenberg and Sens. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jack Reed (D-RI) sent a letter to Senate Rules Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), requesting the committee “protect the health of employees and visitors to the Senate by eliminating smoking in Senate buildings entirely.” The two smoking rooms closed by the committee’s action were next to a coffee shop in the basement of the Hart Senate Office building; and in the Dirksen Senate Office building cafeteria. Now, smoking is prohibited in all of the Senate’s public buildings.

Flashes of Memory: An Embassy Exhibit Takes a Fresh Look at Some of the Most Widely Seen Images of 20th-Century Photojournalism

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The civil rights photos include . . . the famous photo of a Mississippi sheriff who had assisted in the murder of three civil rights workers, sitting in a courtroom grinning idiotically and stuffing his fat face with Red Man chewing tobacco -- a perfect portrait of the banality of evil. . . . 50 Years of American Photojournalism: 1939-1989 is at the Canadian Embassy Art Gallery, 501 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The show is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Aug. 29. Free.

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Honors Auriel Rolle-Polk of Tallahassee, FL As Youth Advocate of the Year : Leadership in Fight Against Tobacco Recognized Nationally

Tue, 20 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Auriel Rolle-Polk, 17, of Tallahassee, FL has been named the South Regional Youth Advocate of the Year by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids for her leadership in the fight against tobacco. Auriel is being honored at a gala in the nations capital on May 20 along with a national winner, international grant winner, three other regional winners and a group winner. Auriel, a junior at Lawton Chiles High, has been working in tobacco control for four years. She founded a SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) chapter at her high school and has spoken with elected officials about restricting the sales of candy-flavored tobacco products and raising the cigarette tax. Auriel was also instrumental in creating and implementing a spit tobacco awareness event for youth on the steps of Floridas Capitol which garnered local and national media coverage. More than 400 public health, political, civic and business leaders will attend the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids twelfth annual anniversary gala in Washington, D.C., to recognize these young leaders.

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Youth Advocates of the Year Awards Gala

Driddick@tobaccofreekids.org — Sat, 17 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

You are cordially invited to attend the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids' 12th Annual Youth Advocates of the Year Awards Gala When: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 5:30: General Registration Begins and VIP Reception (ticket holders only) 6:00: Reception 7:00: Dinner and Awards Presentation Where: The Ritz-Carlton Hotel 1150 22nd Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20037 (202) 835-0500

DC Council Delivers Victory for Kids and Taxpayers by Doubling the Cigarette Tax to $2 per Pack: Statement of William V. Corr, Executive Director, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The District of Columbia Council has taken a critical step to protect kids and taxpayers from the devastating toll of tobacco use by doubling the District's cigarette tax to $2 per pack. We applaud the Council for approving this life-saving measure and urge members to also increase funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The $1 cigarette tax increase is a win-win-win solution for the District of Columbia -- a health win that will reduce tobacco use and save lives, a financial win that will raise much-needed revenue and reduce tobacco-caused health care costs, and a political win that is popular with the voters. The evidence is clear that increasing the cigarette tax is one of the most effective ways to reduce smoking, especially among kids. Studies show that every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking by 7 percent and overall cigarette consumption by about 4 percent. The District can expect the $1 cigarette tax increase to prevent some 4,100 DC kids alive today from smoking; spur 3,100 DC smokers to quit for good: save 2,100 DC residents from smoking-caused deaths; produce more than $100 million in long-term health care savings; and raise about $11.7 million a year in new revenue.

D.C. Council Votes To Raise Cigarette Tax By $1

dcnews@nbc4.com — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The D.C. Council voted on Tuesday to double the city tax on a pack from $1 to $2. The tax is being raised to pay for a proposal by Council member David Catania to boost health care payments. "I think that's an excellent idea when I look at health outcomes," said Council member Yvette Alexander. "With the health outcomes, we do want to send a strong message."

Cigarette, Property Sale Taxes Might Rise

Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The D.C. Council is poised to increase taxes on cigarettes and property transfers to make up a $35 million budget shortfall, while still providing new funding for schools and tax relief for small businesses. Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D) said yesterday that the council has reached a consensus on a strategy that would maintain many of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's priorities in his $5.7 billion spending plan for fiscal 2009 and resolve the key areas of disagreement. The revised budget package, which the council will vote on today, also includes amendments . . . Council member David A. Catania (I-At Large) also came up with what he called "new taxes" on cigarettes and health-maintenance organizations to help pay for "Healthy DC."

Lautenberg Applauds Closure Of Smoking Rooms In Senate Office Buildings: N.J. Sen. Says Smoking Ban Will Protect Health of Senate Employees, Visitors and Make Senate a Leader in Going Smoke-Free

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Lautenberg Applauds Closure Of Smoking Rooms In Senate Office Buildings

Tue, 06 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

American Lung Association Hails Decision to Snuff Out Smoking in U.S. Senate Lounges: Senators, Staff and Visitors Should Not be Exposed to Secondhand Smoke in the Nation's Capitol

Tue, 06 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Statement of Bernadette A. Toomey, President and CEO WASHINGTON, May 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On behalf of the American Lung Association, I commend Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jack Reed (D-RI) for their successful efforts to prohibit smoking in all public places in the Senate. For too long, Senators, staff and visitors to the Senate Office Buildings have been exposed to secondhand smoke. We also thank Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Robert Bennett (R-UT), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules, for their leadership in supporting and implementing this important public health measure. While we recognize today's announcement as a critical step in the right direction, the American Lung Association also urges the Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives to make the entire U.S. Capitol complex smokefree. Ironically, many Senators and House Members are prohibited from smoking in worksites and public places while in their states and districts--but they are still allowed to smoke in personal and committee offices on Capitol Hill. Smoking is also still permitted in two locations in House office buildings. No one should be exposed to secondhand smoke as a condition of employment.

Debate heats up over smoking in film

Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The push to end smoking in the movies lights up Congress this week as the anti-tobacco American Legacy campaign plans to highlight their campaign in an event scheduled in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday.

A Trip to N.Y. for the Price Of a Trip to the Soda Machine

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Bolt Bus is an effort by the folks at Greyhound to come to terms with the newly competitive nature of the East Coast intercity bus business. Ever since the various Chinatown bus services arrived on the scene a few years ago, the Big Dog has been left to chase his own tail. Everything the hound did, the Chinatown buses (they started out as a service run by Chinese immigrants for their compatriots in New York's Chinatown) did better: The upstarts were cheaper, faster, more flexible . . . The Big Dog tried to fight back by noting that some of the upstarts had been the subject of government complaints about their safety. But riders like me didn't care. We preferred to take our chances on the cheap trip, even if some drivers seemed more interested in smoking, eating and chatting while they operated the bus. . . . Given the price of gas and tolls, not to mention insurance and taxes, these companies can't offer these bargain-basement fares for long, so grab them now. You can always go back to the seething, cursing, wild-driving, smoking Chinatown drivers; those trips get you there for next to nothing, but they feel as cheap as they are.

D.C. Kids 'Kick Butts' on April 2: New Poll: Teens Still Feel Targeted By Tobacco Advertising and Find It Easy to Buy Cigarettes

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Kids across D.C. will rally against tobacco on April 2 as they join thousands of young people nationwide for the 13th annual Kick Butts Day, sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Hundreds of events are planned across the nation (for a list of local events, go to http://www.kickbuttsday.org/events).