Schwarzenegger stubs out California smoking ban

SAN FRANCISCO - California governor, former bodybuilder and action movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger has used his veto power to snuff out a bill that would have banned smoking in all state parks and beaches, calling it “an improper intrusion of government into people’s lives”.

Schwarzenegger, an avid cigar smoker who even erected a special smoking tent outside his office, said Monday that the far-reaching legislation was a power-grab by state authorities over what should be a local issue.

“There is something inherently uncomfortable about the idea of the state encroaching in such a broad manner on the people of California,” Schwarzenegger wrote in his veto message. “This bill crosses an important threshold between state power and command and

local decision-making.”

The bill would have imposed a $100 fine on people who were caught smoking at any of the 278 state parks or beaches, though it would have allowed smoking in parking lots and campgrounds.