Maryland Senate approves statewide smoking ban

[cascagraphic]

The Maryland Senate approved a statewide ban on smoking in bars and restaurants last night after days of negotiations on a compromise measure that dropped exemptions for private clubs. The General Assembly is expected to approve to the measure Monday, when the House of Delegates takes a final vote on the bill.

The Senate's vote, 31-16, came last night after negotiators from the Senate and the House of Delegates spent the day hashing out what had become a major sticking point: whether the ban should allow exemptions for private clubs such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. The statewide ban would primarily prohibit lighting up in restaurants and bars, which were not covered when the state prohibited smoking in most workplaces more than a decade ago. The ban would not apply to tobacco shops.

.......

Gov. Martin O'Malley has lobbied for the ban and pledged to sign legislation if it reaches his desk. He has said he would prefer the bill to have as few exemptions as possible.

"Governor O'Malley looks forward to signing the smoking ban into law," said Rick Abbruzzese, an O'Malley spokesman. "This is a significant step to improving the health of Maryland's families."



http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.smoking07apr07,0,7828965.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

[PurpleChez]

1. I know it gives libertarians and a lot of lefties fits

but I agree whole-heartedly with this sort of thing. Not because smokers are evil or deserve to get cancer or anything of the sort. But there is simply NO OTHER SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES in which we would tolerate -- nay, embrace -- a risk to the public health based on some notion that it represents freedom of choice or expression. I bear smokers no ill will -- as long as they pick up after themselves and don't try to portray themselves as prisoners of conscience because they can't smoke wherever they please. But I have long been amazed at the extent to which smokers have been able to convince not only themselves but many non-smokers that it is unreasonable to place ANY restrictions on smoking. The funniest thing is that many of these folks lean towards the right wing, which has no qualms about restricting every other aspect of personal conduct.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Don't they know that when they smoke, the terrorists win?

The terrorists at Big Tobacco, that is.

OK, they're not really terrorists. They're thieves and murderers, but they don't try to scare anybody. You got me.

[PurpleChez]

3. Bwah-HAH!

I realized well after I posted that I was indicting libertarians and leftists in one sentence, and right-wingers in another. So I apologize for that. But it also accentuates the weird success smokers have had in convincing themselves and so many others that smoking deserves some oddball protected status. I'm always reminded of a very good friend, a major leftie, and a lifelong NON-smoker, who regards the evidence against second-hand smoke the way the bushies do global warming. He has objected to ANY restrictions on public smoking, based on the idea that the science isn't 100% conclusive.