One of summer's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the number of smoke-free states has increased to 25. This number is triple the number of smoke-free states that existed just three years ago. Additionally, the number of states with no restrictions at all has decreased from 16 to 8. With Iowa recently becoming smoke-free and Michigan on its way, Wisconsin is the last holdout in the Midwest! In just a few years, Wisconsin has fallen behind other states across the nation in reducing health problems caused by secondhand smoke.
The CDC, one of the world’s leading experts in tobacco-related disease, states that the only way to effectively reduce damages caused by secondhand smoke is to make all indoor workplaces smoke-free. It's time for Wisconsin to join the other 25 states across the country in protecting the health of its citizens!
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4 comments:
Hear, hear! I am frankly embarrassed that Wisconsin hasn't yet passed a smoke-free law. My relatives and friends in Iowa and Illinois, who have always viewed Wisconsin as being "progressive," are shocked as well.
Progressive policy smoking bans are, my arse! The Michigan Legislature smartly voted down a comprehensive smoking ban when they reconvened in September, much thanks to Detroit-area Democrats being swayed by ACTUAL EVIDENCE of how total smoking bans have hurt casinos in Illinois and Windsor, Ontario.
Have fun believing your make-believe lies of how bans supposedly help businesses out, when such laws have hurt bars throughout Ohio, Minnesota, and Illinois so much, that there is widespread disobedience of those bans! I expect similar disobedience has also begun in Iowa, with their more recent ban now in effect.
Ta-ta, Smoke Free Wisconsin, and take pride in the fact that BOTH smoke-free and smoking businesses can freely co-exist in your state, though I expect none of you probably will look beyond your comfortable anti-smoking propaganda. Long live freedom of choice!
It should be noted that the above comments aren't factually accurate (aside from the fact that I obviously disagree with this person's point of view).
The Michigan Legislature did not vote down a comprehensive smoke-free law. In fact, majorities of legislators present in both houses of their legislature voted in favor of a strong smoke-free workplace bill that includes all workplaces, restaurants, bars, and state-regulated casinos (it should also be noted that Wisconsin does not have any state-regulated casinos). Unfortunately for Michigan, the 50-49 vote in favor of smoke-free in their House didn't provide enough votes to satisfy a requirement in Michigan law that a majority of the entire body, not just those present for the vote, approve a bill for its passage. The magic number is 56 - so neither side had enough votes to declare a definitive victory. Michigan's House has already voted in favor of revisiting the issue - when there are enough lawmakers present to make a decision either way - before they officially conclude their session at the end of the year.
"Anonymous" wrote: "Long live freedom of choice!"
If only I HAD the freedom of choice of where I can go to eat a meal, or watch a band play. I am being discriminated against, and my movements unfairly limited, simply because I need clean air to breathe freely, without setting off asthma and allergies.
Even those people without allergies or asthma are suffering the effects of secondhand smoke -- they just don't know it -- yet.
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