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Smoking bill passes

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Illinois

This concept appears to be on the fast track in both chambers. A tougher bill to ban smoking throughout the state may be stalling out. More in tomorrow’s Capitol Fax. (Link may be broken by the time you read this.)

County governments could ban smoking in public places under a plan that cleared half of the Illinois legislature today.

Lawmakers gave cities the power to ban smoking in restaurants, bars and other public places last year. The Springfield City Council recently used that right to impose a ban that goes into effect this fall.

Now supporters say counties should have the same right but only for unincorporated areas, so cities would still have the final say on bans within their borders.

The state Senate voted 45-10 for the proposal.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 1, 06 @ 4:01 am

Comments

When are we finally going to ban smoking in private homes where children are present? Children are the most at risk, and are being abused by their parents in this situation. It’s not like they can leave, and they probably don’t know any better.

Next, we need to ban smoking while driving. If you can’t have a cell phone in your hand in Chicago while driving, why should you be able to have a cigarette in your hand?

Comment by Leroy Wednesday, Mar 1, 06 @ 6:48 am
Not enough, Leroy, let’s get those nasty people who even think about smoking. Think about the children!

Comment by Pat Hickey Wednesday, Mar 1, 06 @ 8:55 am
I don’t see what the big deal is. The bill does nothing to stop people from smoking in their homes or on the street. It only gives local goverment the authority to ban smoking in public places.

It seems like a reasonable solution. Let the counties decide.

Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Mar 1, 06 @ 9:24 am
By Phil Mercer
BBC News, Sydney 02-28-06
Smoking is linked to premature death
Authorities in Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales, are to consider banning smoking in cars.
A parliamentary inquiry will look at the effects of passive smoking on passengers, particularly children.
Supporters of the proposal have admitted, however, that enforcing such a ban would be difficult.
Smokers in Australia have already been squeezed out of bars and restaurants, as well as some beaches and most other public places.

Yestersdays news at BBC, coming some to a state near you, and taken to a fine legal point a street or highway could be defined as a public place.

Comment by Driver Wednesday, Mar 1, 06 @ 9:40 am
Can we ban Packer fans from entering the state I think they are more deadly than smoking…

Comment by ISU REP Wednesday, Mar 1, 06 @ 11:26 am
[…] County Smoking Bans? […]

Pingback by IlliniPundit.com » Blog Archive » Roundup (3/1/06) Wednesday, Mar 1, 06 @ 1:34 pm
We all know that drinking impairs our ability to safely drive a car. Smokers like me know that if we can’t smoke when we drive, THE REST OF YOU BETTER NOT CUT US OFF!

In all seriousness, and valid second-hand smoke concerns notwithstanding, smokers provide lots of social benefits. We pay more taxes, receive less social security benefits and accept being treated as social pariahs and second-class citizens, huddling in the alleys, staying out of sight. It’s not enough that we’re going to get cancer or emphysema from our addiction, laws like this increase our risk of pneumonia too. I smoke faster when it’s cold outside, but some of my colleagues are out there with no coat on. Can you imagine?

And even though the MSM ignores it, there is a very important health benefit of smoking, one that is proven in the medical literature: smoking prevents Alzheimers.

Cigarettes are legal, smoking really isn’t anymore. We subsidize tobacco farmers and tax tobacco consumers. Why can’t we have a consistant, coherent and sensible public policy on this? Today it’s tobacco and second-hand smoke. Tomorrow it might be caffeine and saturated fat. I hope the public policies that will soon be proposed to regulate these public health crises are better conceived.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 1, 06 @ 11:03 pm