From: Joe@smokefree.org
Date: Fri, 11/03/06
Three States to Vote on Clean Indoor Air
On Tuesday (November 7), voters in Ohio, Nevada, and Arizona will vote on clean
indoor air ballot initiatives. In each state, there are opposing initiatives on
the ballot (funded by tobacco companies in Ohio and Arizona, funded by gambling
interests in Nevada) that would repeal or prohibit local clean indoor air laws
and implement weak statewide laws.
OHIO (Issue 4 vs. Issue 5)
Issue 4, funded almost entirely by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, would repeal
local clean indoor air laws and replace them with a weaker statewide law. Issue
5, funded mostly by the American Cancer Society, would permit local clean indoor
air laws and provide strong statewide legislation for localities without clean
indoor air laws.
NEVADA (Issue 4 vs. Issue 5)
Issue 4, funded mostly by gambling interests, would prohibit local clean indoor
air laws and create a weak statewide law. Issue 5, funded mostly by health
groups, would permit local clean indoor air laws and provide strong statewide
legislation for localities without clean indoor air laws.
Arizona (Prop. 206 vs. Prop 201)
Prop. 206, funded mostly by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, would repeal local
clean indoor air laws and replace them with a weaker statewide law. Prop. 201,
funded mostly by the American Cancer Society, would permit local clean indoor
air laws and provide strong statewide legislation for localities without clean
indoor air laws. To see the American Cancer Society's "Real vs. Fake" TV ad
(i.e. the Mona Lisa ad), go to
http://www.smokefreearizona.org/grassroots/Real_vs_Fake
This new tactic of proposing competing initiatives is clever. It will be
interesting to observe if voters see through the smoke and mirrors. The tobacco
industry is generally seeking a way to permit smoking and protect tobacco
industry profits, while the American Cancer Society is generally seeking to
prevent cancer and protect health.
Joseph W. Cherner
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
This email contains the opinions of Joseph Cherner, president of SmokeFree
Educational Services, Inc. Your comments, corrections, questions, or
suggestions are welcome.
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