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Democratic Senators decided in caucus this afternoon to take a vote today on the statewide smoking ban bill.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 29, 07 @ 3:50 pm
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Now you’ll have even more reasons to quit.
Comment by Bill Thursday, Mar 29, 07 @ 3:53 pm
I get the restaurant reason, but a Bar? Pleaaaaaasssseeee!!!
Comment by smokeless in IL Thursday, Mar 29, 07 @ 4:48 pm
Going after the more meaty issues plaguing the state first I see.
Revenue, reform, funding, education. Those issues are too hefty for our legislature to really tackle in a meaningful way.
Comment by Papa Legba Thursday, Mar 29, 07 @ 5:38 pm
34 yes votes
Comment by it passed Thursday, Mar 29, 07 @ 6:00 pm
Now all my favorite upscale bars and restaurants won’t relocate out of Chicago to Cicero, Oak Lawn and Robbins - go Senate!
Comment by Wholier Than Thou Thursday, Mar 29, 07 @ 6:18 pm
Oh no…
No more smoke…just mirrors
Comment by Siyotanka Thursday, Mar 29, 07 @ 6:21 pm
Can we talk about a real issue?
Chocolate Jesus on display in NYC angers Catholics
By LARRY McSHANE
Associated Press Writer
Published March 29, 2007, 4:38 PM CDT
NEW YORK — The Easter season unveiling of an anatomically correct chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ, dubbed “My Sweet Lord” by its creator, has infuriated Catholics preparing to observe some of their holiest days of the year.
The 6-foot sculpture by Cosimo Cavallaro was to debut Monday evening, four days before Christians mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. The final day of the exhibit at the Lab Gallery inside Manhattan’s Roger Smith Hotel was planned for Easter Sunday.
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“This is one of the worst assaults on Christian sensibilities ever,” said Bill Donohue, head of the Catholic League, a watchdog group. “It’s not just the ugliness of the portrayal, but the timing _ to choose Holy Week is astounding.”
The gallery’s creative director, Matt Semler, said the Lab and the hotel were overrun with angry telephone calls and e-mails. The gallery was considering its options, he said.
“We’re obviously surprised by the overwhelming response and offense people have taken,” said Semler, adding that the Holy Week timing was a coincidence.
The artwork was created from more than 200 pounds of milk chocolate, and it features Christ with his arms outstretched. The Cavallaro creation does not include a loincloth.
A publicist for the gallery said the artist was not available for comment.
Cavallaro, who was raised in Canada and Italy, is best known for his quirky work with food as art: Past efforts include repainting a Manhattan hotel room in melted mozzarella, spraying 5 tons of pepper jack cheese on a Wyoming home and festooning a four-poster bed with 312 pounds of processed ham.
Comment by Bored in Springfield Listening to Senate Debate on the Internet Thursday, Mar 29, 07 @ 6:55 pm
Haha, so how long do you think it will be before the holy chocolate bar goes missing?
Comment by Bridget Dooley Thursday, Mar 29, 07 @ 8:20 pm
Best news I’ve heard in months.
Let the House approve it and then Blago can really do something to improve the health care for everyone…and SIGN it into law
Comment by curious george Thursday, Mar 29, 07 @ 10:10 pm
Now, on to the House where Big Tobacco, Liquor Lobby, Bar Owners, Casino$ will prostrate themselves with the Speaker and beg him to kill the bill or amend it to weaken it. Hold firm on this life-saving legislation, Mr Speaker. 72 votes or bust!
Comment by just the facts Thursday, Mar 29, 07 @ 10:35 pm
Is it possible for a whole state to close its doors and go out of business? Stick around and find out.
Comment by T.J. Friday, Mar 30, 07 @ 1:44 am
Bill doesn’t go nearly far enough.
We really need to ban smoking in private homes (and cars) where children are present.
Children are the most vulnerable members of society, and cannot defend themselves.
Springfield needs to step in and start addressing this issue now.
Comment by Mike K. Friday, Mar 30, 07 @ 7:15 am
To Mike K.: I agree, we need to to protect our children from irresponsible parents who don’t recognize the dangers of smoking in a vehicle with a child present. There is always outrage when somebody leaves a dog in a vehicle on a hot day, citing cruelty. How about child cruelty by exposing them to smoke. Better yet, how about child abuse. The House in their non-existent wisdom defeated a bill (Borland)yesterday that proposed just that!
Comment by It Makes Sense... Friday, Mar 30, 07 @ 7:36 am
I am not a smoker. Normally, when I was younger I would say that the government has no right to regulate what people do in their personal lives (medical, sex, religion, etc.). Smoking bans would (in my opinion) be much like the government passing laws requiring motorcyclists to wear helmuts. On the surface, it isn’t anybody (especially government) else’s business. But, I discovered I was wrong in that viewpoint. It is every taxpayer’s business.
When someone gets hurt in a motorcycle accident or develops lung cancer, these same individuals impact the rest of the people in our society negatively in many different ways but especially economically. They wind up being a financial burden on the rest of us in society. Our police, court systems, ambulances, and hospitals must bear the burden of the costs that their negligence costs. These people don’t pay the police or court systems for burdening them with increased work loads and increased expenses. They often can’t pay our hospitals for their large medical costs. Therefore, this economic burden gets pushed onto the insurance companies (which then have to raise their rates to offset this)and the hospitals (increased rates due to the non-insured and under-insured) and our welfare systems.
When smokers and helmut-less motorcyclists agree to “sign-off” on future economic ramifications to the rest of us and agree not to be a burden on society, then I will say, “Smoke like a chimney, buddy and let your hair blow in the breeze as you ride down the highway.”
As that famous phrase goes, “It is the economy,stupid” but in this case, “It is all about the economic repercussions that negatively impact the rest of us, stupid!” Put out the cigarette and put on a helmut, you freeloaders.
Comment by Beowulf Friday, Mar 30, 07 @ 8:18 am
Gee, with so much of cook county’s budget hinging on cigarette taxes, I’m not so sure the smoking ban is a good idea!
Comment by NoGiftsPlease Friday, Mar 30, 07 @ 5:55 pm