Another Powerful New Jersey Republican Calls on Democrats to Ban Casino Smoking
The grassroots coalition of Atlantic City casino employees advocating for clean indoor air has gained another strong supporter.
Debates regarding smoking in casinos within the nine Atlantic City resorts have persisted in the Trenton capital for years. Past legislative sessions have received sufficient backing in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature to present a bill to Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) desk, mandating the physical casinos to become entirely smoke-free.
Democrats, who dominate the General Assembly and Senate, have delayed the casino smoking legislation since 2022 when the gaming industry resisted the measures. The debate continues, nonetheless, and a proposal in the lower house has once more garnered sufficient backing through co-sponsors for the initiative to move to the Senate.
The measure — Assembly Bill 2143 — has been shelved in the Assembly Tourism, Gaming, and the Arts Committee. Led by Assemblyman Bill Moen (D-Camden), the committee chair has received instructions from his Democratic leaders to postpone a vote on the smoking ban initiative.
Republican Support for Smoking Prohibition
Prohibiting smoking in casinos has emerged as a political rallying point for Garden State Republicans, who are steadily progressing in the traditionally Democratic area. President-elect Donald Trump received over 46% of the votes in New Jersey last week, marking the best showing for a Republican presidential candidate in the state since it last voted Republican in 1988 with George H.W. Bush.
In September, Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio (R-Warren) showed his backing for finalizing the casino smoking legislation.
“If Democrats are serious about protecting workers, Republicans are ready to help pass the bill. We need legislative action, not excuses,” DiMaio declared.
This week, Republican Assembly Whip Brian Bergen backed the initiative. Bergen urged Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex) to direct his legislative colleagues to take action on AB2143 and its counterpart — Senate Bill 1493.
“Leaving the casino smoking ban bill off the Tourism Committee’s agenda is more than an oversight. It’s an insult,” said Bergen, as reported by NJ Assembly GOP.
"There is enough support from both sides of the aisle to advance this bill. The speaker has no excuse not to take immediate action to ban harmful secondhand smoke exposure at casinos,” Bergen continued.
“Casino employees have waited long enough for a healthy workplace. New Jersey has applied the ban on smoking to outdoor locations, on beaches, and in parks, but Democrats can’t get behind expediting expanded protections for casino workers. It’s inexplicable,” the GOP Assembly whip concluded.
2024 Assistance
AB2143 was brought forth in January by Assemblymembers Moen and Herb Conaway (D-Delran).
Since then, 40 additional assembly members have co-sponsored the measure, comprising most of the Assembly Tourism, Gaming, and the Arts Committee. Boasting 43 Assembly sponsors, AB2143 has sufficient backing to succeed in the 80-seat legislative body.
SB1493 was introduced in January by Senators Shirley Turner (D-Ewing Township) and Joseph Vitale (D-Woodbridge) as well. Turner and Vitale are accompanied by 15 fellow senators in the 40-seat legislature.
It has been reported that Democratic leaders have delayed reviews on casino smoking regulations due to requests from the Atlantic City gaming sector, which argues that a ban on smoking could result in job losses, decreased tax income, and the potential closure of one or more resorts.
