When the GOP advocated for their being allowed to take over the House and Senate their claim was that they could and would address the problems most Americans are dealing with, jobs, inflation, housing, but upon gaining the majority they so wanted their first actions were to threaten Social Security and Medicare and declare that they would have investigations of Hunter Biden’s laptop and those investigating the January 2021 insurrection after appointing some people being investigated to that committee, and, as it was such a pressing issue for the American people, the Republicans have decided that House members are once again allowed to smoke inside the building.
Washington DC, like a lot of places, reasonably bans smoking indoors unless it is your home or that of a friend who allows smoking in their house. Many do not.
In compliance with the recommended CDC bans on indoor smoking and because of health reports, in 2007, when she took the gavel, Former Speaker Pelosi banned smoking from much of the capitol, but made an exception that allowed for smoking inside Representatives’ offices.
Previously, President Clinton banned smoking in a number of federal buildings, but only those under the control of the executive branch during his presidency, but only those under the control of the executive branch.
150 years ago, the Speaker of the House, James Blaine of Maine, banned smoking in the chamber galleries and on the floor of the House while in legislative session.
The Senate followed in 1914.
Since the House Majority sets the rules at the beginning of each session, the House is now one of the few office buildings in the country that still allows, or has re-allowed, smoking inside.
On the day the rule was enacted, much to the discomfort of members of the press present in and near his office, Tom Cole of Oklahoma went full Neener-Neener” with the lighting up like he and his ilk claimed people would do the minute his state and others decriminalized pot and dispensaries opened.
GOP projection at its finest
According to the CDC, tobacco use is this country’s number one cause of preventable disease, disability, and death with over 16 million people living with at least one disease caused by smoking while an additional 58 Million non-smokers are exposed to their smoke.
Any day now the GOP will present its proposals for dealing with jobs, inflation, and housing, but we might have to wait until after the cigarette break.
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