The tallies are inching closer to the point where the New Jersey Senate and Assembly can each vote to close the loophole that allows smoking in portions of casinos.
In terms of numbers, half the Senators have co-sponsored the bill and 43 of the 80 Assembly members have done likewise. Additional legislators have pledged to vote for the bills when they reach the floor in each chamber, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
“We will keep this issue front-and-center over the summer and work to make sure it’s a top priority when legislators return to Trenton in September,” said Cynthia Hallett, president and CEO of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, in a press release June 29. “Especially in light of the new reality that smoke-free casinos are performing better than their smoking counterparts, there’s no reason not to act.”
The Casino Association of New Jersey, the trade group representing the gaming properties, has strongly opposed the bills. Banning smoking would harm the industry and cost jobs, it says. Local 54 of Unite Here, which represents hospitality workers, also opposes the legislation, which was incorporated into the contract signed last week that averted a city wide strike. But the dealers union and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 152 support it, according to the groups. Local 152 represents thousands of retail, manufacturing, and healthcare workers in south Jersey.
“We started this fight a year ago—Fourth of July marks one year since poisonous smoking came back to our workplaces—knowing little about politics or the legislative process,” said Pete Nacarelli, co-leader of Casino Employees Against Smoking’s Effects. “It’s amazing what we’ve been able to achieve so far, but we will continue fighting.”
The bills, marked S264 and A2151, would ban indoor smoking in casinos and simulcasting facilities.
