From: Joe@smokefree.org
Date: Mon, 11/06/06
Ohio Governor Says Issue 4 Amounts to Voter Fraud
Reject Issue 4, Pass Issue 5 says Governor
Parts excerpted from Dayton Daily News, 11/4/06
CENTERVILLE - Visiting Centerville (Ohio) on Friday morning, Governor Bob Taft
blasted Issue 4, the Smoke Less Ohio issue on Tuesday's ballot, and urged
passage of Issue 5, Smoke Free Ohio.
"Issue 4 amounts to voter fraud," Taft told a gathering in city council
chambers. "It's a wolf in sheep's clothing." Issue 4 is 99.8% funded by R.J.
Reynolds Tobacco Company.
Issue 4 is a proposed constitutional amendment supported by big tobacco
companies. While it calls for banning smoking in most public places, it would
actually permit smoking in bars, parts of restaurants, bowling alleys and bingo
halls.
Issue 4 doesn't go far enough, warned Dr. Nick Baird, director of the Ohio
Department of Health, who joined Taft at the press conference. Baird cited a
slew of related health dangers listed in a recent U.S. Surgeon General's
report.
Issue 5 (funded primarily by the American Cancer Society and other health
groups) calls for laws that would eliminate smoking in all public places and
work places, including bars and restaurants, to protect the health of 500,000
hospitality workers in Ohio as well as patrons.
If both issues pass, Issue 4 prevails because a constitutional amendment trumps
state law. Issue 4 would thus wipe out smoke-free ordinances in 21 Ohio
communities, including Centerville.
Taft, Baird, and Health Commissioner Allene Mares of the Combined Health
District of Montgomery County all stressed that voters need to vote no on Issue
4 and yes on Issue 5 for Smoke Free to pass.
"This is one of those times when 'Less' means more - more smoke, that is," Mares
said.
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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