Today's the day

Today is the official launch of the "It's time... to breathe free" campaign.

A lot of people think "it's time" for Wisconsin to go smoke-free in all public places, including public buildings, workplaces, restaurants, and taverns:

• nearly 2/3 of Wisconsin voters
  
• SmokeFree Wisconsin
  
• Wisconsin Restaurant Association
  
• American Cancer Society
  
• American Heart Association
  
• American Lung Association
  
• Wisconsin Medical Society
  
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Some highlights from the announcement:

• Results of a poll taken last week show nearly 2/3 of Wisconsin voters favor a statewide smoke-free law with no exceptions for restaurants or taverns
  
• Support is strong among Republicans, Democrats, and Independents
  
• Ed Lump, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, said, "The only smoking ban that creates a 'level playing field' for all businesses and protects all employees is a comprehensive workplace ban statewide" (the WRA represents 16,000 restaurant owners across the state)

You can join the "It's Time" Campaign by asking your legislator to be a co-sponsor of comprehensive statewide smoke-free legislation that allows for no exceptions. To find out who your legislator is, click here.

It's about health

"The debate is over. The science is clear. Secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard that causes premature death and disease in children and nonsmoking adults." -- U.S. Surgeon General, June 27, 2006

The U.S. Surgeon General said it best: the debate is over. There's no denying that secondhand smoke is harmful - so harmful, in fact, that it kills. Even our opponents admit this. So why are certain classes of people in Wisconsin still being denied their right to breathe clean air?

It's time for the legislature to protect the health of everyone by passing a comprehensive smoke-free state law that takes secondhand smoke out of all public places, including workplaces. And let's not forget - restaurants and taverns are workplaces too. No one should have to choose between a job and good health.

It's time for a smoke-free Wisconsin.

"This is not a budget for Big Tobacco..."

Straight from the governor's mouth - Big Tobacco isn't welcome in Wisconsin.

No word on the statewide smoke-free air bill - Governor Doyle stuck to discussing fiscal policy tonight. Here's a recap of the anti-tobacco budget components:

• $1.25 increase in the cigarette tax
  
• restoration of $650 million of the tobacco settlement funds
  
• $30 million earmarked yearly to fight against tobacco in Wisconsin

What makes this proposal so good?

• the tobacco tax money will go to fund Medicaid costs directly related to smoking
  
• Quote of the night: "I will not allow the mistakes of the past to be repeated" (pledging to protect the anti-tobacco money to go toward tobacco-related treatment and anti-tobacco programs!)

What did you think of the budget address? Let us know!

Budget Address Tonight!

The governor will be addressing his budget priorities for the next 2 years tonight at 7 p.m. in his official Budget Address.
You can tune in on Wisconsin Public Television or Wisconsin Public Radio, or view a live stream here.

Governor Doyle's January 24th announcement of his comprehensive tobacco control package mobilized Wisconsin's tobacco-free movement. We appluad Governor Doyle for his intentions to raise the cigarette tax in Wisconsin by $1.25 and to fully fund the state's tobacco prevention and control program at $30 million per year.
What's left to be seen tonight is whether or not he will again call on the Wisconsin State Legislature to pass a comprehensive statewide smoke-free air bill that would protect all Wisconsinites from secondhand smoke. We support Governor Doyle's proposal for a smoke-free workplace law that would prohibit smoking in all indoor public places and workplaces, including restaurants and taverns.
Everyone deserves the right to breathe smoke-free air!

It's time for Wisconsin to breathe free

All across the country and the world, communities are enacting smoke-free laws in order to protect public and worker health. Smoke-free laws have been passed in Appleton, Madison, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Chicago and thousands of other communities, as well as sixteen states, and many entire countries like Ireland. Even France is going smoke-free!

States with Comprehensive Smoke-free Laws as of January, 2007
(Smoking prohibited in all workplaces, including restaurants and taverns)

• California
• Delaware
• New York
• Connecticut
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Washington
• Puerto Rico
• Hawaii
• Ohio
• Arizona (implements May 1, 2007)
• Washington, DC
• New Jersey
• Colorado