The Onondaga County Legislature came close to overriding the county executive’s veto of Tobacco 19 this afternoon, but fell two votes short of the 13 needed.
Tobacco 19 would legally raise the age to buy tobacco products to 19, with an exemption for active military.
Despite her concerns about underage smoking, she felt the law wasn’t effective enough, County Executive Joanie Mahoney said.
A senior from West Genesee High School addressed the legislature. Alissa Orlando, 17, said she has seen first hand the effects of underage smoking.
“The teenage mind is not developed enough,” she said, cigarettes should be kept out of teenagers’ hands.
“It won’t make a major dent, but any dent, any life saved is worth it,”Nancy St. Onge, pictured at left, told the legislators.
St. Onge represents the Tobacco Free Initiative Program and listened
intently holding her “I Love Smokefree NY” tote.
Co-sponsor Robert Warner, R-Baldwinsville, urged his fellow legislators to vote for the legislation, saying the county should maintain a proactive role of regulation.
The law would be beneficial by decreasing Medicare and Medicaid payments, said David Stott, D-Liverpool. After the decision, Stott says
he still believes the law would’ve helped reduce underage smoking.
One of eight Republicans who voted no, James Rhinehart, of Skaneateles, said he’s against the military exemption.
“At 18 your either able to make that decision or not,” he said, regardless of military service.
Last year, then-County Executive Nick Pirro vetoed a different version of the legislation.
The Onondaga County Legislature has never overridden a county executive’s veto.
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