Below is a listing of the latest news on legislative issues and anti-smoking movements affecting your personal freedom and rights to enjoy cigars. Get Involved, Learn about the Issues, and Take Action!
Mayor wants smoking ban in parks extended to Little Rock Zoo
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| May 20th, 2010, 02:11 PM | Arkansas |
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Little Rock's mayor wants the ban on smoking in city parks extended to the city's zoo and has asked the city manager to see if that's possible.
City Manager Bruce Moore signed off in July on a smoke-free policy for city parks. The policy, which is a request, not a law, took effect Oct. 1.
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Little Rock Zoo's ban on smoking fails
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| May 11th, 2010, 02:11 PM | Akansas |
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Despite being housed in a city park, visitors of the Little Rock Zoo can still light up. Smoking is allowed in sections of the popular attraction.
However, there have been unsuccessful attempts by members of the Zoo Board to stop people from smoking on zoo grounds.
There are nine members on the board. Last month, three of them voted to ban smoking at the zoo. The problem with that is that three other board members voted against it. Another member was absent, and there is a vacancy on the board. Without a majority vote for the ban, people can continue to light-up.
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Pryor supports tougher regulations
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| June 4th, 2009, 10:16 AM | Arkansas |
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Stuttgart, Ark., JUN 4 - Senator Mark Pryor spoke in support Wednesday of a bill to give the government some control over the tobacco industry.
The 84-11 Senate vote Tuesday to consider the bill came a month after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a similar measure giving the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate cigarettes and other tobacco products.
“I think it will pass the Senate easily,” Pryor said.
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Tobacco Store Owners Feeling Pinch Of Tobacco Hike
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| March 7th, 2009, 06:13 AM | Arkansas |
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LITTLE ROCK, MAR 7 -- Margaret Walker's angst is rising with the fall in business she says has been all too evident at the eastern Arkansas tobacco store she and her husband run since increases in state tobacco taxes went into effect last week.
Newspaper ads Mississippi tobacco stores are running inviting Arkansans to “drive a little and save a lot” just add to her anxiety, Walker said, because she feels customers are driving across the border to take them up on their offer of cheaper tobacco products.
Larry Cobb, retail operating supervisor of Forrest City-based Tobacco Superstores Inc. knows firsthand. His company owns some of the Mississippi tobacco outlets doing the advertising.
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Arkansas smokers fume over tobacco tax hike
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| February 27th, 2009, 01:27 PM | Arkansas |
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HARRISON, Ark, FEB 27 -- Arkansas' tobacco tax increase is starting to register with nicotine addicts who are stocking up on cigarettes to satisfy their future cravings.
"It's been great; sales have increased a whole lot," said Judy Biggs, manager of Tobacco World.
At Tobacco World, people are buying them by the cartons.
"We got people ordering ten boxes to beat the price," said Biggs.
Store managers can't complain about the sweet sales but some smokers are fuming.
"What gets me, when I started smoking, it was promoted throughout the country," said longtime smoker Roger Lidey.
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Arkansas Smokers Stock-Up Before Sunday's Tax Hike
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| February 26th, 2009, 11:17 AM | Arkansas |
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FEB 26 - Arkansas smokers are stocking up on cartons of cigarettes just days before a $.56 per pack increase March 1, 2009.
The Arkansas tax will also increase other tobacco products by 36%.
On April 1, 2009 the federal government will increase its cigarette tax by $.62 per pack.
Many retailers are worried tobacco users will go across stateliness to buy cheaper cigarettes.
Arkansas law allows people to possess one carton, plus one pack of cigarettes that don't have any Arkansas cigarette tax.
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Tobacco tax's Senate OK to be big job, Beebe says
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| February 7th, 2009, 02:02 PM | Arkansas |
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FEB 7 - Gov. Mike Beebe said Friday, a day after the House of Representatives passed his proposal for a cigarette and tobacco tax increase, that it'll be a "difficult task" to win approval in the state Senate.
An occasional cigar smoker, Beebe said he'll be one of those paying more.
So far, not enough members of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee publicly support the bill to ensure that it will get out of the committee and to the Senate for a vote.
Senate President Pro Tempore Bob Johnson, D-Bigelow, said he expects the committee eventually will endorse it.
But the governor said it's too early for him to say whether he's confident the $86 million-a-year tax for a trauma system and other health-related programs will clear the committee.
"We haven't started working it yet," Beebe said. "I'll do whatever [Johnson] wants me to do."
It passed the House on Thursday, 75-24,
The governor is a former cigarette and pipe smoker who says he now limits his tobacco to a cigar every now and then.
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