The Senate Health Care Committee passed a new version of the smoking ban bill that would go well beyond simply banning smoking in restaurants and bars. The Senate may vote on it today. In this Senate bill:
The statewide ban (regardless of local action) applies to restaurants and bars. It also would prohibit smoking in lodging establishments that serve food or drinks–this means anywhere in the lodging establishment. The bill does allow 20% of the guest rooms to be smoking rooms (this limit on the number of smoking rooms demonstrates that this bill isn’t just about second-hand smoke).
The ban also would apply to for-profit private clubs that serve food or drinks.
The bill then authorizes local governments to regulate almost any location (including all businesses, places of employment, local sidewalks, local parks, etc.):
It even would allow the following absurdities:
– Truck drivers would be prohibited from smoking in their trucks (imagine the absurdity of a truck driver going from town to town trying to figure out whether he can smoke).
– No smoking in home-based businesses located outside the dwelling: For example, a working farmer could never smoke in his barn.
– All for-profit private clubs (including country clubs) would be prohibited from allowing anyone to smoke.
– Owners of businesses couldn’t smoke even when the business closes for the day.
This bill is an attack on property rights, just like the House bill. No matter how much they water down the bill, it still should be unacceptable to anyone that believes in property rights.
