So, it’s a little better…..

but still, seriously flawed. The Star had it about right. They wrote in this weeks’ editorial….

“It remains far from becoming law, but a proposed statewide ban on smoking in most workplaces is more palatable now that the Indiana House added an amendment that protects strong local ordinances.

House Bill 1213, as originally proposed by state Rep. Charlie Brown, would have cleared the air in almost all workplaces in Indiana, including bars and restaurants.
OAS_AD(’160×600_1′); Brown’s bill was weakened significantly in committee, including exclusion for bars and casinos. Even worse, as altered, the bill would have wiped out stricter laws in cities and counties across the state.

The House fixed that problem Monday, approving an amendment pushed by Rep. Peggy Welch that would allow local governments to enact measures stronger than the state’s proposal.

The ban on workplace smoking is vital for at least three reasons:

» Research indicates that employees exposed to secondhand smoke are placed at higher risk of contracting serious health problems, including cancer and heart disease.

» Indiana has one of the highest adult smoking rates in the nation, which means many workers are likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke while on the job.

» Recent research underscores the positive effects of workplace smoking bans. Major studies in the United States and Europe have found significant reductions in the number of heart attacks in communities where restrictions have been enacted.

Brown’s bill deserves to move forward in the legislative process, but it isn’t as strong as it should be. That’s because amendments have been added that would exclude casinos, horseracing tracks, racinos and off-track betting parlors from the smoking ban.

Gambling lobbyists fought for those exceptions based on economic concerns. They fear gamblers wouldn’t spend as much time inside casinos if they couldn’t puff on cigarettes and feed slot machines at the same time. Restaurant owners used a similar argument in fighting Marion County’s smoking ban three years ago. But the ban was enacted, consumers adjusted, and new restaurants continue to open and flourish in Marion County.

What changed in Indianapolis after the ban? Many diners report a more enjoyable experience now that the smoke has cleared. More important, workers’ health is better protected.

Employees across the state, regardless of where they earn their paychecks, should be given the same safeguard.”

Look, let’s get this straight. This is not a “rights” issue, and hasn’t been ever since Bush’s Surgeon General proclaimed that there is no doubt that second hand smoke is dangerous. As my libertarian friends tell me all the time, your “right” ends at the end of your nose. When you effect others, (secondhand smoke) you have no right to do it, whatever “it” is.