The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania - Forum

Libertarian Party of Philadelphia
For immediate release
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For more information contact:
Joseph Leibrandt, Chair
Libertarian Party of Philadelphia
josephleibrandt@gmail.com
215-275-3504
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February 7, 2005

Philadelphia Libertarians Oppose Banning Smoking in the Workplace

Philadelphia, PA - The Libertarian Party of Philadelphia (LPP) today
announced the beginning of its campaign to defeat the bill to ban
smoking in most workplaces introduced in City Council recently.

"This anti-smoking bill is nothing more than a vicious attack against
anyone who owns property in Philadelphia", said Joseph Leibrandt,
Chair of the LPP. "Why does City Council think it should dictate to a
bar or restaurant owner where customers can smoke?"

"The choice of allowing smoking or not should be left to business
owners, employees, and patrons. If ordinary people really want smoke
free bars, bar owners will voluntarily open smoke free bars. In fact,
in the past few years several new smoke free bars have opened in
Philadelphia."

If a customer is caught by the police smoking in a bar every week, the
bar owner will have to pay $15,000 in fines every year.  Said
Leibrandt: "This has nothing to do with health -- along with red light
cameras, this is just another way to get money from the hard pressed
Philadelphia taxpayer!"

Leibrandt continued: "The City of Philadelphia takes on average $150
via the wage tax every month from each Philadelphian.  Given a free
choice between (a) a city government that takes this much and
interferes in whether you can smoke in a bar, or (b) a smaller city
government which doesn't take any money from you in wage tax, which
would you rather have?"

The Libertarian Party, founded in 1971, is the third largest political
party in Philadelphia and the nation, with more candidates elected to
office than all the other third parties combined.  It is committed to
peace and free markets -- see www.lppa.org for details.