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Delaware voters and others who care about smokefree issues can
send a letter to the Governor by going to www.smokefree.org/Delaware
**********************************

Last week, we reported that the Delaware legislature passed smokefree
workplace legislation for ALL Delaware workers (including restaurant, bar,
casino, and night club workers).

The bill must now go to the Governor for her signature to become law. The
Governor has repeatedly stated that she will sign this legislation, and it
will become law in 180 days.

According to the following article in the Delaware State News, "Delaware law
does not place a requirement on when or how long the legislature can take to
send a bill to the Governor. According to Gregory B. Patterson, a spokesman
for the Governor, the legislature is not mandated by law to ever submit a
measure to the governor for signature. Mr. Patterson said if the Governor
does not get the bill before Election Day on Nov. 5, the legislation dies,
even though both chambers passed it."

If you would like to send a letter to Delaware's Governor and legislature,
go to www.smokefree.org/Delaware. Your letter will be automatically FAXED
and EMAILED to Delaware's key decision makers and newspapers.

Joe

Delaware bill's smoke hasn't cleared
By Tom Eldred and Joe Rogalsky, Staff writers, May 17, 2002

DOVER - The bill to ban smoking in virtually all indoor public places,
including casinos, had not reached Gov. Ruth Ann Minner's desk late Friday.

The measure passed the Senate Tuesday and the House two weeks ago. Under
Delaware law, it needs to be sent to the governor's office for her signature
by Senate President Pro Tempore Thomas B. Sharp, D-Pinecrest.

Gov. Minner has said numerous times that she will sign it.

Sen. Sharp, as chairman of the General Assembly's Passed Bills Committee, is
required in Title 29 Section 904 (b) of the Delaware Code to "deliver the
bill or resolution to the Governor and take the Governor's receipt therefor
and report to their respective Houses the bills or resolutions so
delivered."

But the law does not place a requirement on when or how long Sen. Sharp can
take to send a bill to the governor.

According to Gregory B. Patterson, a spokesman for Gov. Minner, Sen. Sharp
is
not mandated by law to ever submit a measure to the governor for signature.

Mr. Patterson said if Gov. Minner does not get the bill before Election Day
on Nov. 5, the legislation dies, even though both chambers passed it.

Once the governor receives the bill, she has 10 days, not counting Sundays,
to sign or veto it. If she puts her name to the smoking ban, it takes effect
180 days later.

Gov. Minner was unavailable to comment, Mr. Patterson said.

Sen. Sharp did not return phone messages left at his home. He was not at his
office Friday.

"There are a lot of rumors out there that are trying to get legs," said Sen.
David B. McBride, D-Hawks Nest. "It only passed Tuesday. It takes more than
a
few days worth of work."

Rep. Deborah D. Hudson, R-Fairthorne, said the bill should be going to Gov.
Minner soon. Sen. Sharp voted for it Tuesday, she pointed out.

"I would be surprised if the senator would play politics with this since he
was in favor of it," said Rep. Hudson, who helped guide the bill through the
House.

But co-sponsor Sen. George H. Bunting Jr., D-Bethany Beach, said Sen. Sharp
may want to take some time on the matter before turning it over to the
governor.

"Sen. Sharp knows the financial numbers very accurately,'' he said. "I think
Sen. Sharp is playing it pretty close to the cuff right now. He's waiting to
see which is the right way to go with this.

"I think he's taking a little bit of time here. He wants to get some input
from the business community as to what (financial) impact this is going to
have.''

Even if Gov. Minner signs the anti-smoking bill, Sen. Bunting said he would
not be surprised to see additional legislation on smoking in casinos and
cigarette taxes introduced in the General Assembly soon, especially in light
of looming budget deficits.

"I would expect some legislation on the slots in the next few weeks,'' he
said. "I don't think the governor has a lot of wiggle room on this. You've
got slots and cigarette taxes to deal with, or you've got to deal with
laying
off 2,000 employees.''

Sen. Bunting said he's had second thoughts about the anti-smoking
legislation
since he originally signed on as a co-sponsor.

"I don't think at the time I sponsored this that the legislature realized
how
serious the economic situation was,'' he said.

Sen. Bunting said he voted for the measure Tuesday because he sponsored it.

"We may not like smoking but we may not have the luxury of taking smoking
away right now,'' he said.

"If I had to make a choice of laying off one state employee or taking
smoking, I'd take the smoking. I don't think we have the luxury at this
point
in time to veto smoking."

Mr. Patterson insisted Gov. Minner wants the bill on her desk quickly.

"The governor would urge the Senate to convey the bill as soon as possible,"
Mr. Patterson said. "There is a considerable amount of interest in this
bill."

If you would like to send a letter to Delaware's Governor and legislature,
go to www.smokefree.org/Delaware. Your letter will be automatically FAXED
and EMAILED to Delaware's key decision makers and newspapers.





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