The Onondaga County Legislature failed again this afternoon to make Tobacco 19 the law. Legislators voted 11-8 for the bill but needed two more votes to override County Executive Joanie Mahoney’s veto.There was a clear divide between legislators wanting to raise the age to buy cigarettes from 18 to 19 and legislators who didn’t. Bill co-sponsor and, Robert Warner , R-Baldwinsville(left image), said, "I'm not sure that anyone at that age knows what they are doing to themselves for the rest of their lives."The resolution would make it illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone under 19. The bill was vetoed in 2007 by former County Executive Nick Pirro and again this September by Joanie Mahoney.Some legislators said they voted against the bill because those underage in the military were excluded. "What is that telling kids- that they can smoke if they join the military?" James Rhinehart, R-Skaneateles, asked. William Kinne, D-Syracuse, did not agree with the bill but said he voted for it because its sponsors asked him to. "At 18, you are responsible for your own actions," he said. Alissa Orlando, 17, a senior at West Genesee High School, told legislators she has witnessed 18-year-old students selling cigarettes,” We need to start early on and stop this addiction," she said. Warner said he will keep trying until Tobacco 19 is passed but he may wait another year before he tries again. "Some people feel government should not be involved in telling people what to do. I think that's ridiculous."
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