Clear the Air

Introduced today in the West Virginia House of Delegates was HB2932 which would require smoking regulations by local boards of health to gain approval from county commissions, and in some cases city councils, in order to become effective.  This bill is sponsored by Senators Delegates Tim Manchin, Linda Longstreth and Mike Caputo.

The proposed legislation has been referred to the Political Subdivisions Committee and then to the Judiciary Committee.

This bill will politicize every proposed change in local clean indoor air regulations across the state and severely undermines the foundation of public health policy in West Virginia.

As stated in the post here yesterday:

Boards of health are unique. As regulatory bodies they combine use of scientific data, local administration of public health policy, inclusion of experts and citizens, and a structure that sets the board one degree apart from the political establishment. This last point is critical - decisions regarding the prevention of disease and protecting the community from serious public health threats are too important to be mired in political battles.

If you are concerned with protecting public health in West Virginia should contact House Political Subdivision Committee members by telephone or email urging them to OPPOSE HB2932. It’s best to do both - place a phone call and a follow-up email. You may contact your other members as well.

House Political Subdivision Members:

Delegate Manchin - Chair - (304) 340-3166
tmanchin@manchin-aloi.com
Delegate Beach - Vice-Chair - (304) 340-3153
rbeach@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Sumner - Minority Chair - (304) 340-3180
lsumner@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Cowles - Minority Vice-Chair - (304) 340-3177
dcowles@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Cann - (304) 340-3118
whocann@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Doyle - (304) 340-3184
jhndoyle@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Fragale - (304) 340-3114
rfragale@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Hartman -  (304) 340-3178
whartman@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Lawrence - (304) 340-3152
lawrencefordelegate@hotmail.com
Delegate Longstreth - (304) 340-3124
llongstr@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Louisos - (304) 340-3170
tlouisos@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Miley - (304) 340-3248
timmiley@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Poling, D. - (304) 340-3137
dpoling@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Ross - (304) 340-3145
mikeross@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Susman - (304) 340-3183
ssusman@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Tabb - (304) 340-3274
rtabb@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Varner - (304) 340-3187
svarner@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Williams - (304) 340-3160
lwillia1@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Anderson - (304) 340-3168
eanders1@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Duke - (304) 340-3151
waltduke47@aol.com
Delegate Ellem - (304) 340-3394
ellem@wirefire.com
Delegate Miller, J. - (304) 340-3147
jonathan@delegatejmiller.com
Delegate Overington - (304) 340-3148
john@overington.com
Delegate Schadler - (304) 340-3191
rschadler@comcast.net
Delegate Shott - (304) 340-3179
jhshott@mail.wvnet.edu

Please make your phone call today - even if you do not personally reach your legislators leave them a message requesting that they OPPOSE HB2932.

Tags: 2009 Session, Action Alert, clean indoor air, West Virginia Legislature

The following tobacco-related bills were introduced today, Wednesday, March 4th, in the West Virginia Legislature:

SB456 - Creating Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity Standard and Fire Prevention Act

HB2932 - Requiring the approval of board of health rules relating to tobacco use in public or private places.

Bills are listed here for informational purposes only and no endorsement is to be implied. Clear the Air will review bills more in depth as they begin to move. To track these bills yourself visit the West Virginia Legislative website Bill Status page.

Tags: 2009 Session, bills introduced, clean indoor air, West Virigina Legislature