Laws that take aim at Texans’ 'sins’ await action in Legislature (State Smoker Ban... Alert)

Star Telegram ^ | Apr. 26, 2009 | ANNA M. TINSLEY AND GRANT JUNKIE

[Eric Blair 2084]

Sex. Smoking. Alcohol.

These are among the so-called sins the Texas Legislature is considering regulating -- for better or worse -- this session.

From a statewide smoking ban to a 10 percent tax on entry fees to sexually oriented businesses, lawmakers are looking at tightening restrictions.

"They are always looking at sins," said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University. "There’s a heavy Baptist presence in Texas and the Legislature.

"They are very attuned to sins," he said. "And they always want to be 'agin’ it."

Maybe somewhere along the way, their actions can affect what some Texans do, said Jim Riddlesperger, a political science professor at Texas Christian University.

"Governments try to both change behavior and produce revenue from it," Riddlesperger said. "These are all behaviors that do not contribute to the wholesome growth of society."

With just weeks remaining in the 81st Legislature, time is dwindling for lawmakers to weigh in on the 2009 Sin Agenda.

Here’s a look at some of their efforts.

Smoking

Lawmakers are considering a statewide smoking ban in public places, including bars and restaurants.

Cities such as Fort Worth and Dallas already have local ordinances, but this one would create a uniform policy throughout Texas.

Supporters say it would help reduce lung cancer and other smoking-related diseases. Opponents say it would infringe on business and property owners’ rights.

Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, is one of several co-sponsors of the bill, and she said it’s about protecting Texans.

"It’s a public-health issue," Davis said. "It’s not about the person who makes a choice to go into these places but about protecting the people who work in those businesses. They have a dramatically increased risk of having cancer.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Even the thought of this hurts. I only spend 5 days per year in Texas at our annual Cowboy game vacation. They already have a smoker ban in DFW. Thank God the new stadium is in Arlington.

The fun police has to even try to ruin my 5 days of freedom in a red state like Texas of all places while escaping the Democratic People's Republic of NJ.

I don't think this will pass. Even if it did, there is no way that Gov. Perry would sign this. He's a conservative after all. (Somebody please reassure me)

[Eric Blair 2084]

Big Brother, Nanny State, Grant Junkie, Bogus Study, Junk Science, Social Engineering, Egalitarian, Central Planning, Sheeple Control, Food Cop, Smoke Nazi, Socialism, Collectivism

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We the People Sheeple of the United States Nanny State, in Order to form a more perfect Union Socialist Utopia, establish Justice Socially engineer a country of non smoking, physically fit, seat belt and helmet wearing teetotalers, ensure domestic Tranquility Smoking bans in bars, limits on unhealthy food and social drinking, provide for the common defense Universal Healthcare, promote the general Welfare health of the population whether they like it or not, in order to save above mentioned Universal Healthcare entitlement program from bankruptcy, and secure the Blessings of Liberty Dependency to ourselves progressive liberals and our Posterity Hitler Youth who we brainwash through public school education, do ordain decree and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Nanny State of Liberals.

[GOP_Lady]

The Time Has Come to Say, "Stop!"

[GOP_Lady]

"I simply turn on the Golden EIB Microphone and share my honest passions and beliefs with people. And they're free to go elsewhere. They're free to ignore; they're free to believe; they're free to be entertained, I don't care. They're free to do whatever they want. But a lot of people aren't free to smoke cigarettes where they want; they're not free to drink where they want; they're not free to eat the kind of food they want to eat; they're not free to eat trans fats; they're not free to drive certain places. Pretty soon we're going to be told what kind of cars we have to drive. I can't cause that. I can't restrict anybody's freedom. We've elected a guy who can, does, and wants to, all under the guise of saving us. So I appreciate the effort, and I appreciate somewhat losing my temper here. But don't compare me ever to an authoritarian who thinks so little of people that without him they can barely breathe on their own. Don't ever do that." LEARN IT, LOVE IT, LIVE IT! If one cannot understand Rush's words above, then one does not truly understand FREEDOM!

[smokingfrog]

Can't these self-righteous busybodies find something better to do?

[sport]

I would like to correct one small point. I did not elect the sob that is in the White House now. The Communistic bastard is not and will never be my President. If you want him ,you can have him for my part.

[Eric Blair 2084]

"Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."

--C.S. Lewis

[timm22]

I don't think this will pass. Even if it did, there is no way that Gov. Perry would sign this. He's a conservative after all. (Somebody please reassure me)

I'm sorry Eric, but for your own sake I have to warn you...don't expect Gov. Perry to do anything except that which is politically advantageous to him. This is the same Nanny-State RINO who supported mandatory HPV vaccines for middle school girls.

FReepers need to realize that while Texas is generally a conservative place there are still a sizable number of urban liberals and rural/suburban Puritan Nanny-Staters who feel the need to dictate how their fellow Texans should live. The latter are growing weaker with each year, but the former are getting increasingly stronger.

Texas is not the paradise some make it out to be. Still great compared to most parts, but by no means perfect.

[Global2010]

Cig are now over $6 bucks with sin tax here in Oregon and beer sin tax is also a killer from what I here.

I here alot of chatter about how people are doing with chantrel??? the stop smoking meds.

A group of smokers were discussing the danger assc. with the stop smoking meds. Halucinations/nightmares/feeling of suicide to name a few.

The ban of smoking 10ft near any bar/store/ect went into effect too.

I believe they are now trying to pass a law to fine smokers for butt littering. That maybe our Washington neighbors though.

The Indian Casinos are not banning smoking so there is a place for smokers to go.

Not being a smoker and few other non smokers agreed that we wondered at first why people were loitering in parking lots it didnt dawn on us that the ban had gone into effect.

We live in a small rural town men hanging out on corners/parking lots ect. is not common as it is/was down in Cali. where guys hang out on corners and check frequently the manhood area of the body and say stupid things when civil people walk by.

[Global2010]

No.

They are using the tax on cigs here to fund child health care.

I dont understand the relationship to cigs and health care coverage of health care for kids.

[GOP_Lady]

Hi, timm22! Long time no see. I hope all is well with you.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Lance Armstrong is a great athlete who survived his cancer ordeal with grace and went on to win more races. His resting heart rate is around 37 bpm. He’s about the closest thing to a Supreme Being to come out of the human race (except for that One Guy 2000 years ago). However, unless he is a Texan, he really should butt out of their health affairs, and, in general, leave other people alone. And even if he is a Texan, he should butt out on general principle.

AFAIK, some Texas counties have maybe two dozen inhabitants or thereabouts. So why should Mr. Armstrong care if these folks get together and smoke under one roof in what might be a given county’s only public tavern?

[Eric Blair 2084]

Thanks for the local insight. Texas of all places. The Alamo. Rugged individualists whose forefathers fought Santa Anna and beat him at San Jacinto.

Lone Star State. Once it’s own country....

Somebody cue up R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World (As we know it).”

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Also, all the wailing and moaning about the swine flu certainly provides a distraction from all the creepy things our governments are doing.

Meeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhh, take some aspirin, drink fluids, and get plenty of bed rest! That’s what I’d say at one of these press conferences!

[Eric Blair 2084]

Lance Armstrong is a great athlete who survived his cancer ordeal with grace and went on to win more races.

When they finally confirm that he was cheating using EPO or blood doping, I'm gonna laugh my ass off. Hypocrite.

I would have defended him against the jealous French who have been trying to catch him in the act for a decade. Now I want him subpoenaed to a dog and pony show Congressional Hearing like Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa. ***

***I have no proof of any cheating by Lance Armstrong. Just a strong hunch. Please don't sue me.

[timm22]

Thanks GOP_Lady! It's been a while, hasn't it? I haven't posted much since you and Eric chased most of the nanny-staters away but I still lurk on these threads every chance I get.

Hope things are good with you too!

[metalcor]

Arlington was one of the first DFW cities to ban smoking. I thank god for these self righteous Baptist nannies. Were it not for them, our Indian casinos on the OK border would lose 80% of their hundreds of millions of revenue. I hope they still have enough pull to keep casinos out of Texas.

[Eric Blair 2084]

OK, so what hotel and city should I stay in and visit? How far do I have to go to get out of the DFW smoker ban area?

$40 cab fair is OK.

[gocowboys]

Grandstanding politicians are nothing new. Smokers are the minority in America. I’ll use the electric cigs from Europe. Then the politicos can figure out has to raise the tax money they’ve lost. Maybe Rush was right with his “It’s time to tax the users of the government benefits...” Only now it’s banks, GM, Chrysler and AIG.

[timm22]

Thanks for the local insight. Texas of all places. The Alamo. Rugged individualists whose forefathers fought Santa Anna and beat him at San Jacinto.

Ugh, tell me about it! Every time our state government lets up on one "vice" they have to crack down on two more to make up for it. And to think my ancestors braved wild Indians and aggressive spiders just to get away from that kind of garbage! Oh well, at least we can still enjoy our guns and transfats for the most part.

That is, at least until more bed-wetting Yankees move down here and demand that we adopt the same wimpy policies that turned their home states into socialist hellholes.

(Northern Freepers, please note that we only want to keep wussified Yankees out. If you are a Northerner who likes the idea of limited government, individual rights, and a healthy serving of barbecue then by all means come on down! We could use more like you. I've learned to appreciate bagels, seafood, and northern microbrews and I'm sure most of my Texican brethren will, too.)