Gov. Tim Kaine did a victory lap around Virginia on Tuesday to mark the beginning of a historic ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, speaking confidently of the law’s longevity despite his successor’s opposition to it.
Flanked by legislative allies at Chadwicks restaurant in Alexandria, the outgoing governor said the ban would cut heart and lung disease associated with exposure to secondhand smoke among restaurant patrons and workers, while not hurting the businesses’ bottom lines. The stop was sandwiched by visits to Charlottesville and Richmond.
The new law represents one to Kaine’s few major policy wins in a term that has been defined largely by partisan gridlock. The unlikely compromise was made possible with the cooperation of House Speaker William Howell, a Republican who helped shepherd the ban through a divided House of Delegates in February. Similar bills were shot down in prior sessions.
Asked if he was worried about attempts to repeal the ban once he’s out of office, Kaine said he expected the smoking restriction to “quickly become a third rail.”
“There is not a single instance we can find of any city, county or state passing one of these and then going the other direction,” the governor said. “Once it’s in place within a couple of week people are like ‘hey, wow, we really like this.’ ”
Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell, who will take office Jan. 16, remains opposed to the ban, which joins prohibitions in Maryland and the District. The law allows smoking in private clubs, on outdoor patios or in separately ventilated rooms. The fine for violating the ban is $25.
