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Waiting until 2010 is no compromise when health is the issue

Submitted by Jesse Russell on Thu, 2008-01-10 16:10. Current | Advocacy

ashtraywisconsin010908.jpgWhen the notice arrived in my email box that the Wisconsin Public Health Committee had passed Breathe Free Wisconsin I was elated. Finally, we were living up to our motto and moving the state "Forward!" Then I read that Breathe Free Wisconsin was amended with a later implementation date of January 2010 for bars and restaurants. Hello? What? Are you serious? I can understand waiting until January 1, 2009, but 2010?

Maybe no one told the Public Health Committee that in 2006 the Office of the Surgeon General issued a report detailing the impact of second hand smoke? In case you missed it, I've pulled out two of the many substantial findings:

SG wrote:
"Scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Breathing even a little secondhand smoke can be harmful to your health."
...and...
Quote:
"Secondhand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in children and adults who do not smoke."
We have known this for years and it isn't going to change during the 700 days between now and January 2010. Waiting that long makes absolutely no sense and is unfair to not only the service industry workers of Wisconsin, but also to the bar and restaurant owners in forward moving municipalities that have already banned smoking.

18 states have 100 percent workplace no smoking laws with Oregon, Montana, Utah, and Idaho going 100 percent by 2009 (100 percent does not always include casinos or private clubs).

I'm not surprised by this move to delay the smoking ban for an unnecessary second year because after last year's budget debacle I have very little faith that our current crop of elected officials can get anything done in a timely fashion.

I do concede that getting it done by 2010 is better than not getting it done at all, but I live in Madison where I can breathe easy whenever I go out.

If you want help quitting call: 1-800-QUIT-NOW

Smoking on Dane101: Six Reasons to Quit in 2008

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Now Fix It and Pass It

Submitted by kylepfister on Fri, 2008-01-11 01:09.

I like your abbreviation of the Surgeon General as SG... it makes him sound real hip. Now when I read his report it sounds like an R. Kelly story in my head. Actually 22 states plus Washington DC & Puerto Rico have smoke-free laws that cover restaurants and bars. The states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland (Feb. 1, 2008), Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana (extends to bars Sept. 1, 2009), New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon (Jan. 1, 2009), Rhode Island, Utah (extends to bars Jan. 7, 2009), Vermont and Washington. It's time to join the list by rushing this bill to the senate floor and fixing the ammendments until we can be proud of it.

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