Democratic Kentucky Senator Aims To Ban Smoking Statewide. Read My Comments Below.
Smoking ban bill introduced in Ky. legislature
By BRUCE SCHREINER
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- An urban lawmaker started pushing Thursday for a statewide smoking ban in Kentucky, where burley tobacco production and smoking-related illnesses are deep-rooted traditions.
The bill being offered by Democratic Rep. Susan Westrom of Lexington seeks to impose a statewide smoking ban in all indoor workplaces and in public places such as shopping centers. The ban would apply to bars and restaurants.
"We believe that people in the workplace don't need to choose between their health and a paycheck," she said.
Health advocates rallied at the Kentucky Capitol on Thursday in support of the measure.
The bill says that breathing secondhand smoke is a "known cause of disease and premature death in healthy nonsmokers." It states that "the need to breathe smokefree air has priority over the desire to smoke."
Smoking restrictions have taken hold in patchwork form across Kentucky in recent years. More than two dozen communities have adopted various forms of smoking bans.
Under the bill, people caught smoking in areas where smoking is prohibited would be guilty of a violation and would face a $100 fine for a first infraction and a $250 fine for subsequent violations.
Business operators would face even stiffer fines for violations. The first violation would bring a $250 fine. A second infraction would draw a $500 fine if committed within one year of the first violation. Each additional violation within that same year would result in a $2,500 fine.
Still, Westrom acknowledged the proposal faces an uphill fight.
"Good things usually don't happen within one year when you're doing legislative work," she said. "This is just the start of a ... well-planned campaign to educate the citizens of Kentucky, because I don't want people to fear this."
Westrom said plans to keep pushing the bill in coming years.
Kentucky has been a fixture as the nation's top producer of burley tobacco, an ingredient in many cigarettes. The ranks of burley growers has plummeted in recent years, but tobacco remains an important cash crop for many farmers.
Sen. Paul Hornback, a tobacco farmer, said he would oppose the proposed smoking restrictions.
"Taking away more personal freedoms ... is the wrong way for us to go," the Shelbyville Republican said.
Hornback said the decision on whether to let people light up or to go smoke free should be left to business operators.
In towns without smoking bans, business owners "enjoy the fact that they can choose themselves," he said. "And those that have smoking think that it's a benefit to their business."
Given its tobacco culture, Kentucky has ranked at or near the top nationally in adult smoking rates. Kentucky also has consistently ranked among the top states for lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Editor's comment: While I applaud efforts to decrease tobacco use and ABHOR cigarette smoke, I am a STRONG believer that government needs to NOT be able to tell businesses whether to go smoke free or not. Let the market place help business owners make the decision that is BEST for them.
I stay away from smoke filled rooms, including where politics is involved, and I believe that's the way it needs to be.
Public buildings are, however, an exception. If Legislators want to ban smoking at the Capitol or City Halls, they can be my guests.
But banning smoking at businesses makes me wonder when government will want to ban it in my home (I don't allow smoking in my home) -- or yours, or tell me what I can -- or cannot eat!
I shudder at the thought.
By BRUCE SCHREINER
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- An urban lawmaker started pushing Thursday for a statewide smoking ban in Kentucky, where burley tobacco production and smoking-related illnesses are deep-rooted traditions.
The bill being offered by Democratic Rep. Susan Westrom of Lexington seeks to impose a statewide smoking ban in all indoor workplaces and in public places such as shopping centers. The ban would apply to bars and restaurants.
"We believe that people in the workplace don't need to choose between their health and a paycheck," she said.
Health advocates rallied at the Kentucky Capitol on Thursday in support of the measure.
The bill says that breathing secondhand smoke is a "known cause of disease and premature death in healthy nonsmokers." It states that "the need to breathe smokefree air has priority over the desire to smoke."
Smoking restrictions have taken hold in patchwork form across Kentucky in recent years. More than two dozen communities have adopted various forms of smoking bans.
Under the bill, people caught smoking in areas where smoking is prohibited would be guilty of a violation and would face a $100 fine for a first infraction and a $250 fine for subsequent violations.
Business operators would face even stiffer fines for violations. The first violation would bring a $250 fine. A second infraction would draw a $500 fine if committed within one year of the first violation. Each additional violation within that same year would result in a $2,500 fine.
Still, Westrom acknowledged the proposal faces an uphill fight.
"Good things usually don't happen within one year when you're doing legislative work," she said. "This is just the start of a ... well-planned campaign to educate the citizens of Kentucky, because I don't want people to fear this."
Westrom said plans to keep pushing the bill in coming years.
Kentucky has been a fixture as the nation's top producer of burley tobacco, an ingredient in many cigarettes. The ranks of burley growers has plummeted in recent years, but tobacco remains an important cash crop for many farmers.
Sen. Paul Hornback, a tobacco farmer, said he would oppose the proposed smoking restrictions.
"Taking away more personal freedoms ... is the wrong way for us to go," the Shelbyville Republican said.
Hornback said the decision on whether to let people light up or to go smoke free should be left to business operators.
In towns without smoking bans, business owners "enjoy the fact that they can choose themselves," he said. "And those that have smoking think that it's a benefit to their business."
Given its tobacco culture, Kentucky has ranked at or near the top nationally in adult smoking rates. Kentucky also has consistently ranked among the top states for lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Editor's comment: While I applaud efforts to decrease tobacco use and ABHOR cigarette smoke, I am a STRONG believer that government needs to NOT be able to tell businesses whether to go smoke free or not. Let the market place help business owners make the decision that is BEST for them.
I stay away from smoke filled rooms, including where politics is involved, and I believe that's the way it needs to be.
Public buildings are, however, an exception. If Legislators want to ban smoking at the Capitol or City Halls, they can be my guests.
But banning smoking at businesses makes me wonder when government will want to ban it in my home (I don't allow smoking in my home) -- or yours, or tell me what I can -- or cannot eat!
I shudder at the thought.
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posted by KYJurisDoctor at 5:48 PM
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