Well here we go. And it would figure that handgun banning Wilmette bans smoking in public places. The state is facing a fiscal crisis rivalling California's in fact it may be worse, because we are losing jobs right and left...but I'll bet the legislature wastes most of the session debating stupid, politically correct anti-freedom legislation....Unlike California, we have no recall provisions or other way to show our displeasure with the leadership.
Jeff
Restrictions on tobacco are offered in Illinois
By BRIAN WALLHEIMER
Post-Dispatch
01/14/2004
Cities may be allowed
to regulate smoking
in public places
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Tobacco will have a target on it in the Legislature's session starting today.
Several bills would make it more difficult to smoke.
One of the most far-reaching ideas would be to allow municipalities to make their own laws regarding smoking in public places - a power that could lead to outright bans in some communities.
Spokeswomen for the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association said their organizations are backing bills promoting local regulation.
"Illinois has some of the weakest laws in regulating and frankly for keeping smoke out of air," said Margaret Farina, government relations director of the American Cancer Society. "We just want to make sure everybody has the opportunity to breathe clean air."
Philip Morris USA spokeswoman Jamie Drogin said the tobacco company is not against allowing municipalities to make their own clean air laws, but worries that some communities might get carried away with that power.
"Business owners should be allowed some discretion as to what they want in their establishments," Drogin said. "We believe that outright bans go too far."
Bars and restaurants stand to lose business if cities were to ban smoking in their establishments, some say.
"About 95 percent of my customers smoke cigarettes," said Paul Schuerbaum, owner of the Fifth Quarter, a Collinsville bar. "It would affect me a lot."
Under the Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act, only municipalities that had clean-air laws in place before 1990 can make and enforce clean-air laws. There are 19 cities allowed to make such laws in the state, none in the Metro East area. Currently, only Skokie and Wilmette have laws banning smoking in public places. The cities have bans on smoking in all public places, though Skokie allows smoking at taverns.
Kathy Drea, American Lung Association public policy director for Illinois and Iowa, said Illinois ranks near the bottom when it comes to smoking and tobacco laws. The association gave Illinois mostly failing grades on its annual report card last week.
"We rank 31st in (tobacco prevention) spending in the United States," Drea said. "What's funny is we rank fifth in the amount of money we receive from the tobacco settlement."
Drea and Farina said their organizations support bills that would tighten smoking and tobacco restrictions, including: raising the age to buy tobacco to 19 from 18 unless the person has a military identification card, forcing tobacco sellers to be licensed by the state and banning smoking from all stadiums, health facilities and restaurants in the state.
Farina said the only bill the American Cancer Society does not support is one that would make it illegal for minors to possess tobacco. Right now Illinois law bars minors from buying tobacco, but possession by a minor is legal. Farina said minors should not be fined for having tobacco since adults are responsible for restricting youth access to it.
Drogin said Philip Morris USA also supports bills for licensing tobacco sellers and preventing youth smoking.
Reporter Brian Wallheimer
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 217-782-4912
Jeff
Restrictions on tobacco are offered in Illinois
By BRIAN WALLHEIMER
Post-Dispatch
01/14/2004
Cities may be allowed
to regulate smoking
in public places
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Tobacco will have a target on it in the Legislature's session starting today.
Several bills would make it more difficult to smoke.
One of the most far-reaching ideas would be to allow municipalities to make their own laws regarding smoking in public places - a power that could lead to outright bans in some communities.
Spokeswomen for the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association said their organizations are backing bills promoting local regulation.
"Illinois has some of the weakest laws in regulating and frankly for keeping smoke out of air," said Margaret Farina, government relations director of the American Cancer Society. "We just want to make sure everybody has the opportunity to breathe clean air."
Philip Morris USA spokeswoman Jamie Drogin said the tobacco company is not against allowing municipalities to make their own clean air laws, but worries that some communities might get carried away with that power.
"Business owners should be allowed some discretion as to what they want in their establishments," Drogin said. "We believe that outright bans go too far."
Bars and restaurants stand to lose business if cities were to ban smoking in their establishments, some say.
"About 95 percent of my customers smoke cigarettes," said Paul Schuerbaum, owner of the Fifth Quarter, a Collinsville bar. "It would affect me a lot."
Under the Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act, only municipalities that had clean-air laws in place before 1990 can make and enforce clean-air laws. There are 19 cities allowed to make such laws in the state, none in the Metro East area. Currently, only Skokie and Wilmette have laws banning smoking in public places. The cities have bans on smoking in all public places, though Skokie allows smoking at taverns.
Kathy Drea, American Lung Association public policy director for Illinois and Iowa, said Illinois ranks near the bottom when it comes to smoking and tobacco laws. The association gave Illinois mostly failing grades on its annual report card last week.
"We rank 31st in (tobacco prevention) spending in the United States," Drea said. "What's funny is we rank fifth in the amount of money we receive from the tobacco settlement."
Drea and Farina said their organizations support bills that would tighten smoking and tobacco restrictions, including: raising the age to buy tobacco to 19 from 18 unless the person has a military identification card, forcing tobacco sellers to be licensed by the state and banning smoking from all stadiums, health facilities and restaurants in the state.
Farina said the only bill the American Cancer Society does not support is one that would make it illegal for minors to possess tobacco. Right now Illinois law bars minors from buying tobacco, but possession by a minor is legal. Farina said minors should not be fined for having tobacco since adults are responsible for restricting youth access to it.
Drogin said Philip Morris USA also supports bills for licensing tobacco sellers and preventing youth smoking.
Reporter Brian Wallheimer
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 217-782-4912
