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In December, Fairfax County, Va., announced that it was exploring whether it could legally force its employees to quit smoking in an effort to reduce health-care costs. The county also wondered if it could consider tobacco use when making hiring decisions. Ultimately, the county attorney concluded that both ideas are illegal in Virginia. <br />
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Now it is official, as we previously reported.&nbsp; In Virginia, and many other states practice the Dillion Rule, which means no county, city or town can have a law that is different from state law.<br type="_moz" />

It appears health advocates have little chance of seeing Indiana’s smoking ban extended to include bars.&nbsp; However, that doesn’t mean they won’t keep trying.<br />

<p>The pending lawsuit against the City of Gulfport is causing the city council to review and possibly overturn their smoking ban at the beach.&nbsp; In Florida, no city, town or county can have a law that is different from state law, Gulfport overstepped state law and their ban is illegal.<br />
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<p><span class="BodyCopy">Gov. Martin O’Malley has placed yet another cigarette tax hike — which would raise the current $2 per-pack tax to $3, the sixth highest in the nation — on his current legislative agenda.<br />
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The last time the governor raised taxes on tobacco it caused a deficient because people bought their cigarettes elsewhere, what makes him think it will be different this time?<br type="_moz" />
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Many businesses in Indiana are not happy with the smoking restrictions that went into effect July 1, 2012.<br />