You hit the nail on the head. Thank you! 
Posted on 12/17/2002 3:37:04 PM PST by Mark
Texas, San Antonio to be Anti Smoking Battlegrounds
LAST UPDATE: 12/17/2002 12:26:17 PM
(SAN ANTONIO) -- An unlikely coalition of health and community action groups says it is poised to make Texas the 'most unfriendly state in the nation for big tobacco' in the coming year. The groups, which include health organizations like the American Cancer Society and community associations like the PTA, along with a core of experienced public interest lobbyists from Austin's political community, are pushing initiatives on the state and local level with the goal of outlawing smoking in all workplaces and public buildings in the state.
"Buying a pack of cigarettes does not entitle you to take away the clean air from the 85% of Texans who do not smoke," the group's spokeswoman Suzanne Lozano, a San Antonio nurse, told supporters today.
Among the initiatives include proposals before the Texas Legislature to raise the cigarette tax a dollar a pack, and to outlaw what's called 'pre-emption,' a tactic used by tobacco lobbyists to pass luke warm smoking limitations statewide and then forbid cities from passing stronger measures.
Julie Winckler of TRUST for a Smoke Free Texas says that's a prime tactic of the tobacco lobby.
"We feel it's easier to pass anti smoking measures on a local level," Winckler said. "We feel people are more passionate there."
The anti tobacco forces today released a Scripps Howard poll showing 74% of residents of San Antonio support a tough measure being proposed here, which would ban all smoking in all public places, and even place restrictions on smoking outdoors. San Antonio would join Boston among major cities with the country's toughest smoking control laws, and the San Antonio measure is seen as a model for proposals the groups hope to approve statewide.
San Antonio is seen as a key battleground for anti smoking laws because of it's huge tourism base. Bars, restaurants, hotels, and other businesses that cater to tourists generally resist restricting the behavior of their clients.
"Second hand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States," San Antonio Emergency Medical Services director Dr. Don Gordon said. "It is responsible for 56,000 innocent deaths per year."
Dr. John Nava of the Bexar County Metropolitan Health District compared smoking cigarettes with carrying a loaded gun in public.
"You have no right to place the lives of others in danger," he said. Nava said the prime beneficiaries of tough anti smoking laws will be waitresses, bartenders, and other service industry workers.
"Working in the service industry does not force you to give up breathing clean air," he said.
Lozano said the measures would leave citizens with the right to smoke "in their homes and in their cars and nowhere else," adding that businesses would not only be required to ban smoking inside, but the current practice of allowing smokers to lurk around entrances smoking would also be outlawed.
"There would be an area within so many feet of a public building where smoking out also not be allowed," she said. "It's not fair that people have to hold their breath and run a gauntlet of smoke in order to get into a building."
The groups are also pushing for 'comprehensive' tobacco prevention measures in schools, citing statistics released yesterday which show smoking among high school students hitting its lowest level in more than a quarter century.
"Now that we have proven solutions to reduce tobacco use, Texas' leaders have more of an obligation to implement them in our state than ever before," said Carter Headrick of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.
So if I step off the plane and get my duffle bags and head outside and light up whilst I'm waiting on the cab or whatever, I'm gonna get pounded?
Exactly why I no longer support the NRA. When Heston appeared on the Larry Elder talk show, he implied he would be amenable to making a PSA to contradict his original support of Reiner's Jackpot. But when contacted, he went back on his word. And that's why I no longer have any use for Charlton Heston either.
You need to start at square one. Two bars- NO employees-- "How can we liberals extract money?"Well that' so few of the bars so they must be sacraficed. Use employees rights- oh I know let's give them names like Martha and Mary- oh yes let's expand it so it is even more favorable to Rob Reiner and other Socialists. Now let's say Martha is a black lesbian, and Mary is now pregnant by imaculate conception and due around the 25th of this month- the baby's name shall be Jesus. Yes that the ticket.
If or when you have children, maybe they can be used to go to stores to try to purchase cigarettes, so that the stores can pony up even more money for the state. An award shall be due you as a special servant of the government- maybe an arm band you can wear as a Special Servant. The Fatherland appreciates your efforts.
Now, mind...this isn't my theory necessarily, but just recently one of the gubmint agencies published a report that noted (with much consternation, I might add) the nearly perfect correlation between the drop in smoking and the rise in obesity.
Of course...most folks realize and admit that correlation doesn't equal causation--except in the case of smoking....
You need to start at square one. Two bars- NO employees--
Answer= If up to me, bars get to pick. However, your hypothetical isn't reality.
Look rant all you want that this ban is from Nazi's bent on jailing you if you so much as smile. It won't change the hard cold reality that smokers are doomed to having to smoke out by the dumpster when they go to their favorite restaurant. It won't be because everyone wants socialism, it will be because everyone wants a smoke free meal and that smokers were too obnoxious to not take advantage of their smoking priviledges.
When was the last time you asked the waiter or waitress if they mind if you smoked ? Bet it never crossed your mind.
The answer should be obvious when you ask yourself if you would support making tobacco illegal. If it's such a dangerous,obnoxious product shouldn't it be banned? If you think it should be banned, why would your friend "Meathead" Reiner disagree with you? Jessie Jackson also doesn't want to be rid of PERCEIVED racism for the same reason-- no more money-- no more power.
Its very, very clear that you lack any sort of solution regarding the employees and their forced exposure to smoke. I had a feeling you would have no solution to offer.
I hope you get everything that you want for Christmas. If not, remember, it's not a perfect world. At least you live up to part of your screen name.. "minion".
Mark, the workplace smoke bans are NOT universal.
I had a guy email me from Ind and he works on an assembly line. He said the smokers are allowed to smoke right on the line as they work. This smoke ban in the work place is NOT universal. It all depends on the BOSS.
You hit the nail on the head. Thank you!
Not when smokers' taxes are paying for them as well. They have ripped me off by not putting any smoking areas in airports, for instance.
The answer is simple. NEITHER of them have the right to a "nonsmoking" environment.
This is a right to work state. Employers can establish whatever rules they choose. Workers can choose to work there or not. That is the extent of their "rights", on both sides, or at least it should be.
My employer doesn't allow smoking in the office during normal business hours. If I don't like it, I can choose to work elsewhere.
Yes, they do.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the top causes of death in the United States in 1999 were:
To suggest that second hand cigarette smoke kills more people than Alzheimer's Disease is worse than incorrect, it is manipulatively deceptive.
And it seems that is what they are best at.
golder, not every business is universally smoke free. Like I posted, one guy emailed me and he works at an assembly line in IND. The smokers are allowed to smoke right on the line while they work. This is not universal.
There is a plant in MN and the owner said if they pass a smoking ban, he will move his whole plant, lock, stock and barrow. He refuses to impose that on his workers. It's up to the boss.
(That guy makes me sick.)
That said, restaurant and bar employees go into the bar and restaurant business knowing full well that there will be smoking.
If they can't be around smoke, they go apply for a job someplace else. Simple. It's not the Tech Industry, for heaven's sake.
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