Fallsnewspress.com - Will lame duck Legislature undo parts of smoking ban?

by Marc Kovac

Capital Bureau chief

Columbus -- The group that brought a statewide smoking ban to voters two years ago is urging lawmakers to oppose legislation that would undo parts of it.

Smoke Free Ohio is afraid the Legislature will act on Senate Bill 346 during its lame duck session.

"Who would have thought that our historic victory in 2006 would only be the beginning of our fight to keep Ohio smoke free," said John Hoctor, chief government relations officer for the American Cancer Society. "Who would have believed that, three years ago to the day after turning in our first round of petitions, we would be standing together again, this time to protect the law that we all worked so hard to pass."

The legislation is sponsored by Sen. Robert Schuler, a Republican from southwestern Ohio. It has 12 co-sponsors, including Republicans and Democrats.

SB 346 would exempt family-owned businesses, those operating in freestanding buildings, outdoor patios and private clubs.

It would undo bans put into place by the 2006 ballot issue and allow smoking in most restaurants and bars, many offices, bowling alleys and stores and some factories, according to Smoke Free Ohio, which campaigned to place the issue before voters and is a vocal proponent of the ban.

"We ask Ohio lawmakers for their support in keeping this law strong," Hoctor told reporters Nov. 20. "We ask them to give us and the voters of this state what they want and deserve -- the smoke-free public places and workplaces they voted for."

Asked whether the group was prepared to go to the ballot to overturn the proposed legislation if it is enacted, Hoctor replied, "If this passes, we're prepared to do whatever it takes to keep the law and remain a smoke-free state."

The group used the Great American Smokeout Nov. 20 as a backdrop. The national effort takes place annually one week before Thanksgiving and urges smokers to go for 24 hours without lighting up.

There's no clear indication that lawmakers plan to act on the legislation. Senate President Bill Harris (R-Ashland) said his caucus has not taken a position on the bill, nor are there plans to push it through quickly before the end of the year.

"I have not had a lot of requests to me in relationship for the bill to go forward," he said. "I know I've talked to some of our members (who) certainly have concerns (about the ban as it was instituted). By the same token, a lot of our members have concerns, too, about the vote of the people."

Marc Kovac is the Dix Newspapers Capital Bureau chief. E-mail him at mkovac@dixcom.com.

2.	Posted by Reverendcrash December 1, 2008
	A lame duck legislature seems appropriate to deal with a lame law.Let's start with according to the written law IT IS NOT A VIOLATION FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO MERELY SMOKE IN A PUBLIC PLACE.Second there is no requirement for enforcement personel to issue citations to an individual, actually they are not allowed to. Third I believe Mr. Hoctor's credibility to be questionable regarding Health Impact of second hand smoke.If such is the pandemic case as he claims, why were there any exemptions at all? Aren't some peoples lives as important as others? If the true Majority according to Hocter's numbers are against smoking, any businesses that would be foolish enough to permit smoking would soon close any way.Does any one besides me wonder why any anti-group always opposes any form of choice? Does any one care that 34 people from a special interest with 9 billion dollar war chest is allowed to change the definition of EMPLOYEE to any one who does any thing for any body whether they get paid or not is an EMPLOYEE.I don't care which adults smoke or don't smoke.I absolutely refuse to work for the Government to do a job they refuse to do and be threatend with legal action if I don't. Perhaps Mr. Hocter should don his SUPER-HERO costume and go about stamping out smokers. McCarthy tried that with the Communist. How did that work out? I firmly believe Mr. Hocter and his Financier the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation would support sending our Constitution to IRAQ as they see no need for it here in America since we no longer use it except to ammend it to suit any special interest group that has enough money to bribe and threaten Legislators.I await the Day the American Cancer Society is subject to the same investigative scrutiny as was the Red Cross after 911 and the United Way for their financial indescretions.It appears this group flaunts the belief they are above the Law. I see ne difference in Hocter's position and compensation than the Big 3 executives flying to Washington on private jets to beg for money when he makes over a Million Dollars a year from money that was solicited to find a cure. By the way after 50 years how's that project coming? FOUND A CURE YET! Might have if you had spent the money the way you said you were going to instead of on dinner parties and political campaigns.