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House panel rejects smoking ban exemptions
Wednesday, Mar 5, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning [Note from Rich: Kevin is going to start doing one post a day, so help him out in comments with constructive critiques. Thanks.] * Yesterday afternoon the Environmental Health Committee voted overwhelmingly to reject two proposals that would skirt the statewide smoking ban. The first proposal, offered by Rep. Shane Cultra, would have lifted the ban entirely. He argued that the ban is a “nightmare,” crippling businesses in his district and sending patrons across the border to Indiana. The committee voted down his legislation 11-3. * The second proposal was more conciliatory towards the ban, and offered that businesses should be able to buy licenses to allow smoking. Rep. Ramey, the bill’s sponsor, explained that eligible businesses would include bars with food sales of 10 percent or less, casinos, racetracks, veterans’ organizations and other private clubs. Restaurants would be excluded. Tom Swoik of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association testified as a proponent of the legislation. He argued that January and February revenues for the state’s nine operating casinos fell by more than 17 percent as a direct result of smokers spending less time at the slots and more time outside. Some on the committee were sympathetic:
But the measure failed 10-4. * Smokers squeaked out one victory though:
The bill will allow shops if they were licensed by Jan. 1, even if they weren’t open yet.
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- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 9:43 am:
That would seem to be that for now. Perhaps after the election if casino revenues are still down.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 9:48 am:
The purchasing a licesne flies in the face of the health risk to employees. Thats like offering to sell a license to private companies allowing the to disregard OSHA and other sfaety standards if they choose, because it allows them to turn more profit. With increasing gas prices, declining home sales, construction, increasing cost of food, I think there are many reasons casinos are down money. But that aside, we should not expose workers to dangerous work conditions to help the buisness owners make more money.
- Direct Proof - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 9:49 am:
How do we know the only reason casino revenues are down is due to the smoking ban? The revenues could also be down for any number of other reasons, i.e. a slow economy, paying off holiday credit card bills, people just not going to casinos, etc. Just because opponents of the smoking ban say something doesn’t make it true.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:11 am:
Its probably true that gambling is a tad off because of the smoking ban.
Good.
- Quinn For Governor - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:22 am:
Good effort on the post, but Kevin please remember adverbs usually end in -ly (overwhelming).
- Kevin Fanning - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:34 am:
Haha thanks, didn’t see that typo.
- Anon from BB - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:40 am:
It would be interesting to see if there was a correlating spike in revenue at neighboring states’ casinos.
- Captain America - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:45 am:
Congratulations to the Environmental Health Committee for the overwhleming rejection of the smoking ban rollback. Drinkers and gamblers will have to be satisfied by indulging in one vice at a time.
I imagine the tobacco and gaming interests will keep hammaering away on this issue, as well as donating lots of money trying to influence legislators. The ban seems like a made-to-order “fetchum” scenario.
- Trafficmatt - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:49 am:
Great post, Kevin.
Pretty soon you can just send the bossman on a long vacation and just take over the whole operation yourself.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:51 am:
You may not be far off base, Trafficmatt. Spring training in Arizona is calling my name.
- Anon - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 11:17 am:
Great writing style. As for the casinos…revenue’s are down across the board all over the country, not just here in Illinois. Just check their stock prices.
- Phil - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 11:38 am:
To amend the smoking ban after it had only been in force for a couple of months would’ve been ridiculous. Let’s not forget that the economy in general has been suffering for the last several months and that revenues are down across the board in most states. And I really do hate to see the big tobacco companies handing out money to legislators to try to get them to change their votes. I really had thought that those days were over.
- Trafficmatt - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 12:02 pm:
Rich,
GO SOX!!!!!!
Besides, you need a tan. LOL
- Read the Fine Print - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 12:57 pm:
Comprehensive and informative post.
One suggestion for future consideration however and that is; whenever referencing a proposed amendment or a bill itself, while it can be helpful to have links to published articles in the media, it would also be helpful to include a link to the actual item (amendment or bill) that is being considered.
After all, the devil is always in the details and the mainstream media will occasionally overlook a pertinent part of the proposed legislation, or legislative change.
- Anon - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 1:05 pm:
Phil- Not only do tobacco companies contribute money to campaign funds, check out how much the casinos are contributing. ie…a $10000 contribution by a certian casino company that had a certain economic concentration. (They no longer do btw)
- JonShibleyFan - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 1:25 pm:
Anon 11:17 is right. This article points out that gambling is not as recession-proof as had been originally thought, and receipts are down nationwide http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7341403
Indiana casinos, in particular, are down significantly as well: http://nwitimes.com/articles/2008/02/09/business/business/doc09eee41d968bc1d5862573e900780190.txt
- JonShibleyFan - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 1:28 pm:
Oh yeah, nicely done, Kevin.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 3:43 pm:
Good job, Kevin.
So Shane “NO!” Cultra is against everything else but he’s not against smoking in bars? Hmmm. This is a losing battle, and it’s not really a “freedom” or “rights” issue. The state did not ban smoking all together. What a silly argument.
- Skeeter - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 4:29 pm:
Nice first post, and thanks for bringing that excellent license idea to my attention.
If that would pass, I hope I can get one to put asbestos in my business. I know it causes cancer, but it does a great job of fire-proofing, and if my employees and clients don’t mind, the government should let me do it.
- Eagle 9 - Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 4:35 pm:
Nice work Lib’s. I thought you people were about rights of the citizens. Can bar owners post a warning sign at the door and you make the call whether you want to work there or come in for a beer? Or are the citizens of IL to immature to make that call or do you need more nanny state politicians to make that call? What a joke!! Grow Up and stop trying to tell me how to run my life!!!
- Bookworm - Thursday, Mar 6, 08 @ 11:26 pm:
Saw this on Peoria Pundit and it’s pretty funny … bars in Minnesota are exploiting a loophole in their state’s smoking ban law that allows smoking as part of a theatrical performance. The bars simply have “theater nights” where they invite smoking patrons to attend in costume or character and declare them “actors.” One bar has dubbed its nightly production “The Tobacco Monologues.” The state health department has caught on so the tactic may not work much longer… but it’s pretty funny anyway.