Monday, 22 April 2013 01:46
MO lawmakers consider fining cities that ban smoking
Should local communities have the power to ban indoor smoking in public places?
A group of St. Charles County lawmakers apparently don't think so. Republican State Representative Kathie Conway has introduced a bill that would levy fines against cities and counties with local smoking bans. Seven other lawmakers from St. Charles County have signed on as co-sponsors.
The measure would force the communities to give up any property or sales tax revenues from businesses affected by the ban. The money would go to local school districts instead. Conway told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that she plans to narrow that to include only bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, casinos and other entertainment-related businesses, because they're the ones who lose money because of smoking bans.
The bills opponents call it an attempt to intimidate local governments.
Only two communities in St. Charles County have smoking bans in place: O'Fallon and Lake St. Louis. St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis also have smoking bans in place. They would be subject to the fines too, since it's a state-wide measure.
Published in
Local News
Latest News
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Pens close out Sens in 5
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Too much talent. Too much skill. Too much composure. The Pittsburgh Penguins have reached the NHL Eastern Conference finals and will play either the New York Ran...
Pacers stun Heat in game 2
MIAMI (AP) — This time Indiana didn't wilt in the final seconds. After losing the NBA Eastern Conference finals opener in overtime to Miami, the Pacers kept their composure until ...
Pioneering political journalist dead at 81
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pioneering Washington journalist Haynes Johnson, who helped redefine political reporting, has died at age 81. The University of Maryland, where Johnson was a jou...
President Obama sees terror threat at pre-9/11 level
WASHINGTON (AP) — Some call it wishful thinking, but President Barack Obama has all but declared an end to the global war on terror. Obama isn't claiming final victory over extrem...
East St. Louis jury issues indictment of timeshare scam…
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) — A Las Vegas man is accused in Illinois of a timeshare scam that federal prosecutors say bilked $10 million from more than 3,000 victims across the Unite...
Tow boat members honored for saving lives
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Two crew members from a tow boat, including one who died, have been honored for their efforts to save a family of five after the family's boat became disabled on t...
Deadline looms to request Missouri absentee ballots
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Voters in southeast Missouri voters are running out of time to request absentee ballots by mail or fax for next month's congressional election. The spec...
Gov. Quinn responds to House approving conceal carry bi…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn is lashing out at lawmakers after the Illinois House approved a concealed carry bill that he says "puts public safety at risk." Quinn says ...
