With the arrival of 2008 a number of new laws have been implemented in various states around the country. While looking at the list I found a number that I thought could be handy in Wisconsin.

First up is Illinois where they have now banned smoking in the workplace statewide. Wisconsin needs to step into the 21st Century and follow suit. The argument that such a ban will force smokers in the border towns to head west to bars in Minnesota or south to bars in Illinois are now irrelevant because both of those states have shown they are committed to the health of individuals who work in the service industry. The Sheboygan Press said it best when the paper wrote on January 1: "The momentum to pass a statewide smoking ban was growing and reached its height when the Wisconsin Restaurant Association threw its support behind a statewide ban, instead of the hodge-podge of local ordinances that exists today. Sens. Decker and Breske, if they really care about a Healthy Wisconsin, they should move the workplace-smoking ban off the back burner and onto the floor of the senate for a vote.

Looking west to Washington you can now be fined for texting while driving. As someone who was recently a passenger in a car with a texting driver who rear ended another vehicle (it was also icy) I strongly support such a law. I won't lie, I've texted while driving, but after that day I know texting can wait.

In New York they have now passed a Passenger Bill of Rights. As a frequent flier our of both Dane County Airport and Milwaukee's airport I really haven't ever been stuck on the tarmac more than 15 minutes, but I'm super paranoid that it could happen. Under the New York law passengers stuck on the tarmac "for more than three hours get fresh water, food, clean bathrooms and other services." Airlines should take the initiative and make this a policy, I know it could sway me when I make the decision to fly.

Leave it to a libertarian state like New Hampshire to become the most recent to recognize civil unions. I know the state voted against legalizing gay marriage, but can't the majority of us agree on civil unions?