Navajo president vetoes bill to exempt casinos in smoking ban

Monday, August 8, 2011  

Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly vetoed a bill that exempted tribal gaming facilities from a ban on smoking in public places.

Shelly supports a complete smoking ban. He said the bill passed by the Navajo Nation Council doesn't go far enough to protect the health and welfare of people on the Navajo Nation.

"All partners such as Navajo Division of Health, Division of Public Safety, Judicial Branch, and the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise should work together to draft a bill that considers a ‘healthy lifestyle for the Navajo people,'" Shelly said in a press release. "The passage of this legislation does not adequately address any given employees who are subjected to a smoking workplace environment.”

Navajo gaming officials say a smoking ban will hurt their business.

Get the Story:
Navajo Nation president vetoes smoking regulation (AP 8/5)

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