For the second time in two years, the New Jersey legislature has approved a smoking ban for state parks and the majority of state beaches, and once again it heads to Gov. Chris Christie’s desk with a less than optimistic outlook on whether he will sign it into law. This week, the state Assembly passed the bill passed by a vote of 63-7-4 while the Senate passed an amended version by a vote of 24-6. That version went back to the Assembly where it received a 52-6-3 vote. Now, it heads to Christie’s desk with hopes that he won’t veto it like he did in 2014. In a letter to the General Assembly following the veto in 2014, Christie said that “while I appreciate the sponsors’ concerns regarding the health risks posed by smoking and second-hand smoke, I am not persuaded that a presecriptive, one-size-fits-all State ban on smoking at public parks and beaches is advisable at this time.” He went on to cite how local officials have already enacted their own bans, and as such “I do not believe that the State should substitute its judgment for that of our local elected officials or upset the careful balancing of interests ...
↧