Clear the Air

HB2932 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 legislation will politicize every proposed change in local clean indoor air regulations across the state and severely undermine the foundation of public health policy in West Virginia.

This bill was sponsored by Senators Delegates Tim Manchin, Linda Longstreth and Mike Caputo and passed the  Political Subdivisions Committee yesterday on a voice vote. It now will be sent to the Judiciary Committee for further consideration.

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 Judiciary 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 but the priority right now are the following Delegates:

Delegate Webster - Chair - (304) 340-3252
 cwebste1@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Miley - Vice-Chair - (304) 340-3248
timmiley@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Ellem - Minority Chair - (304) 340-3394
ellem@wirefire.com
Delegate Lane - Minority Vice-Chair - (304) 340-3275
patlane@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Barker - (304) 340-3149
barker100@verizon.net
Delegate Brown - (304) 340-3106
bbrown1@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Caputo -(304) 340-3249
caputo@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Ferro - (304) 340-3111
mtferro@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Fleischauer - (304) 340-3169
barbaraf@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Frazier - (304) 340-3396
jfrazier@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Hunt - (304) 340-3392
mhunt@markahunt.com
Delegate Hutchins - (304) 340-3270
thutch@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Longstreth - (304) 340-3124
llongstr@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Michael - (304) 340-3340
Harold@hardynet.com
Delegate Moore - (304) 340-3189
cmoore@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Shook - (304) 340-3173
ashook@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Susman - (304) 340-3183
ssusman@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Tabb - (304) 340-3274
rtabb@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Wells - (304) 340-3287
dwells@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Wooton - (304) 340-3164
wrwooton@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Hamilton - (304) 340-3167
bhamilt@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Overington - (304) 340-3148
john@overington.com
Delegate Schadler - (304) 340-3191
rschadler@comcast.net
Delegate Schoen - (304) 340-3141
pschoen@mail.wvnet.edu
Delegate Sobonya - (304) 340-3175
ksobonya@mail.wvnet.edu

You can identify your other members and their Capitol phone number by entering your zip code here. Legislators need to hear there is a large amount of grassroots opposition to this legislation.

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