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Rep. Mike Boland is not exactly the most popular member of the Illinois House. Many of his colleagues say they just don’t trust his word. I used to like the guy. I thought he was plucky in the face of overhwhelming odds. Then I saw close hand a couple of years ago why he wasn’t trusted.
Boland also introduces more than his share of goofy bills. One of those bills crashed and burned yesterday…
While opponents whistled the sound of falling bombs, proponents argued passionately for anti-smoking legislation aimed at protecting the health of young children.
House Bill 1769 went down in flames Thursday, garnering just 18 “yes” votes while the 91 opponents cheered.
The bill would have prohibited smoking in a vehicle with children ages 8 and under.
Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline, sponsor of the bill, said he chose that age because children are in car seats until then. He thought it would simplify things for police officers.
If everyone had voted, Boland might have hit the magic “Century” mark of “No” votes. Anyway, here’s more…
“Enough is enough,†said state Rep. Bill Black, a Danville Republican. “What’s next? Are we going to have the smoke police come to your house?
“Why don’t we just put a bill on the calendar that says no cigarettes shall be sold in the state of Illinois and the possession … the mere possession of a cigarette would be a Class X felony?â€
State Rep. Michael Boland, an East Moline Democrat, sponsored the plan, citing similar laws in Louisiana, West Virginia and Arkansas. […]
Few of his colleagues agreed.
“Few” is right.
Meanwhile, the Senate passed a statewide smoking ban yesterday…
Handing anti-tobacco forces a major political win, the Illinois Senate on Thursday voted to ban smoking in bars, restaurants, casinos and workplaces statewide.
The initiative, which passed 34-23 and now moves to the House, would replace a patchwork of local anti-smoking laws beginning next January.
The American Cancer Society estimates that eight Illinoisans die each day — about 2,900 a year — after getting sick from breathing smoke-filled air.
Restaurant and bar employees who work eight-hour shifts in a smoke-filled environment breathe in the equivalent of 16 cigarettes, supporters said.
The Pantagraph takes another angle…
Thursday’s Senate vote to ban smoking in all Illinois public places comes on the heels of hundreds of thousands of dollars in television advertising trying to convince voters and lawmakers that second-hand smoke is dangerous.
The anti-smoking ads join spots about Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s business tax plan and others about cable TV competition as recent commercials that could interrupt the local news or “Good Morning America.â€
Jeff Brand, a communication professor at Millikin University in Decatur, says it’s not necessarily unusual to see groups take their legislative goals to the tube.
“I think right now we just have a glut of issues,†he said.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 30, 07 @ 8:23 am
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Gee, and it was such keen bill too.
What’s next? Picking up a newspaper without a paean to Oprah?
Or getting the Sun Times without an important column by that girl with the crooked neck who goes to every Hip spot that has guys with insane Tats, wool Tams, and Bulimic Babes with mouths like fire-buckets?
Well, it’s a start.
Comment by Pat Hickey Friday, Mar 30, 07 @ 8:40 am
Rich, please elaborate on why Mike Boland isn’t trusted.
Comment by Fire Ron Guenther Friday, Mar 30, 07 @ 8:41 am
This guy should really be more focused on getting the Thomson Prison open and bringing in more economic development to his district. It’s a crying shame that the constituents of his district keep re-electing him despite his abhorrent failures at working with the gov and getting that beautiful, brand-new prison fully opened.
Comment by Gene Parmesan Friday, Mar 30, 07 @ 9:16 am
Sounds like a good bill to me.. why should minors be forced to inhale something that causes cancer?
Comment by Snoop Doggy Dog Friday, Mar 30, 07 @ 10:13 am
Our legislators are cheering the fact that they failed to protect the health of children in the state? I couldn’t help but think about this issue advertisement. It’s a perfect fit for them.
Comment by Squideshi Friday, Mar 30, 07 @ 11:17 am
Every good idea doens’t have to become a law. I would rather be hated around the world for our freedoms than be liked because now we are just like them.
Comment by Utility Infielder Friday, Mar 30, 07 @ 11:36 am
At least he got a bill out of the rules committee. Boland had a real close election last time in the Quad Cities. His district is favored towards a Democrat. Madigan spent/raised lots of money on him. Boland may have a hard primary election ahead.
Comment by ANON Friday, Mar 30, 07 @ 12:20 pm
The local police I know were worried about how they were going to enforce this law - they saw all sorts of problems with it. It’s not that they don’t want children protected, but shouldn’t parents be willing to do that themselves??
Comment by Scott Friday, Mar 30, 07 @ 12:25 pm