USA: SMOKING IN FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDINGS EXPECTED TO BE BANNED скачать в хорошем качестве

USA: SMOKING IN FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDINGS EXPECTED TO BE BANNED

(6 Aug 1997) English/Nat President Clinton is expected to sign an executive order this week that would ban smoking in most federal office buildings. It would also impose a ban on smoking outside their doorways and entrances. The order is expected to come later this week, although the White House has repeatedly postponed previously-scheduled signings of the proposal. While non-smokers are pleased that their health is being considered, smokers are growing ever more defiant about their rights. Smokers who work in Federal office buildings may soon find it more difficult to light up during their smoking break, either in or outside their office. An executive order expected to be signed by President Clinton this week will go one step further in stubbing out the rights of smokers. It was originally proposed that smoking be banned within 50-feet of Government buildings, but this has since been scrapped. Some smokers are defiant at what they say is the latest step in the public campaign against tobacco and those who smoke it. VOX POP: (English) "I pay more in health insurance, I pay more in taxes and now I'm going to be hassled? In DC you can't get 50-feet away from a federal building, so imagine a lot of us will stand out in the middle of the road and block traffic. And then I will go back inside and start smoking. If I'm going to get hassled, I'll get hassled at my desk." SUPER CAPTION: Government employee The White House says the proposal is designed to help non-smokers who suffer passive smoking at work on a daily basis. But the new rules seem excessive to some smokers who say they already try to respect the rights of non-smokers around them. VOX POP: (English) "Well everyone has their own opinion. Mine is, I smoke and I'm going to and I try not to interfere with anyone else, so it doesn't bother me." SUPER CAPTION: Government employee The proposed ban would put federal offices in compliance with almost 80 per cent of U-S business employers nationwide who have implemented bans on office smoking or set aside specially-designated smoking areas. But even some non-smokers whom the ban is designed to protect are not sure it is necessary or even a good use of government resources. VOX POP: (English) "It's not necessarily pleasant when you come out and walk through it, but it's only a couple seconds. I can't imagine that they can ban...there's more important problems than that, let's put it that way." SUPER CAPTION: Government employee Such an executive order would be the first policy to bring the various government agencies into line under one consistent non-smoking policy. Several cabinet agencies have already put limits on workplace smoking over the last few years. But others have not, leaving many federal workers who do not smoke eager to see a common policy everywhere. VOX POP: (English) "I think they can stand outside , but stand a certain distance away from the building, you know. Just like in the inside, I mean, if you go in the bathroom the smoke's, accidentally you go in the bathroom and all the smoke is in there, it's awful. It gets all in your clothes, so if you know it gets in your clothes it gets in your system too." SUPER CAPTION: Government employee President Clinton is reportedly still reviewing the proposal, the latest in his public fight during his presidency to protect unwilling segments of the population - like children or non-smokers - from the dangers of smoking. While the ban would apply to federal agencies under the executive branch, courts and Capitol Hill would not be affected. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...