Posted on 01/18/2007 12:14:19 PM PST by Racehorse
No smoking would be allowed inside public buildings in Texas — including restaurants, bars and workplaces — if a legislative proposal is approved to make the Lone Star State one of 18 states with sweeping bans on smoking.
"It is a public health crisis and a very expensive one," said state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, who is spearheading the proposal. He said he plans to file a bill at the end of the month and that he will be joined at that time by a coalition of anti-smoking groups as he unveils details.
The proposal is sure to trigger a fight, but not about whether smoking is bad for you; most people agree that it is. While anti-smoking forces are billing the plan as a way to ensure Texas workers get equal access to safe working conditions, defenders of smokers' rights say the government is overstepping its role.
It's an argument playing out across the country. A decade ago, just a few states had banned smoking. Now, between city ordinances and state laws, about half of Americans live in areas where smoking is not allowed inside public places, according to James Gray, Texas government relations director of the American Cancer Society.
"The bottom line is this country is going to be smoke-free within five to eight years," Gray said. "The question is: When is that going to be in Texas?"
In Texas, where a $1-per-pack cigarette tax increase went into effect this month, pushing another smoking-related law through the Legislature could be tricky. And opponents will argue that this is an issue of personal liberty.
(Excerpt) Read more at statesman.com ...
Tobacco--no. Marijuana--yes.
It's all about collection of power.
Smoke dreams.
These are the same idiots that passed a dollar a pack tax increase to fund education. Now they want to do away with smoking? Who will pay for education?
Maybe they will "steal" another 2 billion dollars for the gas tax and then clam they need even more toll roads.
I love Texas, but the yahoos we send Austin are the biggest bunch of azz clowns I have ever seen.
Turning America into a socialist/communist/facist nation.
ping
Ping
The loss of sales tax revenue on smokes will have to be made up somewhere.
Stinking democrats
ping
Don't write this off just because you don't smoke, or are happy about it. This is just the beginning of many, many more laws to prevent activities that cause "a public health crisis and a very expensive one". As the government completes the takeover of our medical industry, they will complete the takeover of our lives. The Left exchange the slogan about "no one telling them what they can do with their bodies" with "one child per family". The Left wants you to have freedom, as long as it is the freedom they want you to have.
and then it's just a matter of time before you can't smoke within 20 feet of your neighbor's property, and then 30 feet, and then 3 miles...and so on.
its a slippery slope.
(this coming from a non-smoker)
"But we sure won't let that little detail get in the way." /sarc
Interesting comment. Does he mean that in 5-8 years there will be no smoking in any public place in America, or no smoking -- period?
In Texas??? Texas???
This can't be true. The Texas Freepers have told us time and time again how only California has bad government and nanny-state liberals.
Personal liberty does not include the liberty to make other people ill. If you wish to smoke the do it on your own property. I smoked for 40 years and was a damn fool for doing it. I quit finally. Those who tell you smoking is about liberty are also fools. Smoking is about disease, addiction and early death for the smoker and those around them.
Conservation of liberty. China becomes a free market economy, we become a politically correct police state.
"These are the same idiots that passed a dollar a pack tax increase to fund education. Now they want to do away with smoking? Who will pay for education?"
That is the liberal plan when they tax these things. We get used to the funding of these programs and when the funds dry up they MUST find another "revenue enhancement" to continue a program which if folded will cause the end of the world as we know it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.