From: SMOKEFREE@compuserve.com
Date: Wed, 04/09/08
UPDATE: Smoking ban heads to governor's desk
By Jennifer Jacobs and Jason Clayworth
Des Moines Register
April 8, 2008
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080408/NEWS/8
0408024/-1/SPORTS0803
Restaurants, bars and almost all other public places in Iowa must be smoke
free starting July 1, under a bill Iowa’s governor is expected to sign.
Both chambers of the Iowa Legislature passed legislation today that bans
smoking statewide in 99 percent of workplaces and spots frequented by the
public.
The bill now goes to Gov. Chet Culver.
"Governor Culver congratulates the House and Senate for working together on
this important initiative which will make Iowa a healthier state, and he
looks forward to signing the bill," Culver spokesman Brad Anderson said.
Iowans will still be able to smoke in the gambling areas of casinos,
although smoke would be prohibited in casino restaurants, gift shops, bars
and employee areas.
They can smoke in the outdoor areas of bars, the outdoors areas of county
fairs and the State Fair except the grandstands, in limousines and in
retail tobacco stores.
Other exemptions are designated areas of correctional facilities, the state
veterans home in Marshalltown and Iowa National Guard facilities.
But smoking will be banned in restaurants’ outdoor seating areas, the
grounds of public buildings, bowling alleys, most areas of hotels and
motels except designated smoking rooms, private clubs when the public is
admitted, outdoor sports stadiums, boxing arenas, common areas of apartment
buildings, public transit platforms, and school grounds including parking
lots.
State lawmakers spoke with emotion about personal freedom and choice, and
about loved ones who died of cancer.
In the end, the House voted 54 to 45 and the Senate voted 28 to 22 to
shield 95,000 workers out of about 100,000 from the carcinogens in
workplace smoke.
Advocates said scientific studies indicate secondhand smoke causes cancer
and other health problems.
Opponents, including some lawmakers from both parties, said allowing
smoking in casino gambling areas would put restaurants and Iowa bars at a
competitive disadvantage.
Sen. Mark Zieman, a Republican from Postville, said he is worried about the
bars that will be put out of business.
"I think you’ll see business will go up because I think more people will
enjoy going out in a smoke-free environment," countered Sen. Staci Appel, a
Democrat from Ackworth. "I’m sure there’s always businesses that do close
for a number of different reasons, I assume it’s not all because of banning
smoking."
Shannon Barnard, the manager of Gene’s Sports Bar, 2117 E. University Ave.,
Des Moines, believes the ban will hurt business. She said the issue should
have been left to bar owners or customers, who can choose to go to
smoke-free bars.
"We oppose it," Barnard said. "More people are likely to stay at home and
drink rather than come to the bar and have a good time."
Cathy Callaway, president of the Iowa Tobacco Prevention Alliance, offered
praise. Her group would prefer a smoking ban in all areas, including casino
floors, but said the compromise is acceptable. The alliance will advocate
for stricter reforms in future legislative sessions.
The House and Senate had approved conflicting versions of the smoking ban
proposal. The Senate has generally supported a stricter version while the
House wanted to allow smoking in casinos or in facilities such as bars only
during hours when people 21 or older are allowed.
On Monday, a special panel of 10 lawmakers suggested the compromise that
passed both chambers.
"This really is historic legislation - historic for the public health
aspect and historic for the workplace safety aspect," said Rep. Tyler
Olson, a Cedar Rapids Democrat.
A Des Moines Register poll taken in February of 801 Iowans indicated that
75 percent of Iowans supported either a statewide smoking ban or the
Legislature granting local governments the right to establish their own
smoking laws.
Roll call
Here’s how the Iowa Senate voted Tuesday on House File 2212:
FOR: 28
Democrats (25): Appel, Beall, Bolkcom, Connolly, Courtney, Danielson,
Dearden, Dvorsky, Fraise, Gronstal, Hatch, Hogg, Horn, Kibbie, McCoy,
Olive, Quirmbach, Ragan, Rielly, Schmitz, Schoenjahn, Seng, Stewart,
Warnstadt, Wood
Republicans (3) Lundby, Noble, Ward
AGAINST: 22
Democrats (5): Black, Dotzler, Hancock, Heckroth, Kreiman
Republicans (17): Angelo, Behn, Boettger, Gaskill, Hahn, Hartsuch, Houser,
Johnson, Kettering, McKibben, McKinley, Mulder, Putney, Seymour, Wieck,
Zaun, Zieman
Here’s the House’s final vote:
FOR: 54
Democrats (45): Abdul-Samad, Bell, Berry, Bukta, Cohoon, Dandekar, Davitt,
Foege, Ford, Frevert, Gaskill, Gayman, Heddens, Hunter, Jacoby, Jochum,
Kelley, Kressig, Kuhn, Lensing, Mascher, McCarthy, H. Miller, Murphy,
Oldson, D. Olson, R. Olson, T. Olson, Palmer, Petersen, Reasoner, Reichert,
Shomshor, Smith, Staed, Swaim, D. Taylor, T. Taylor, Wendt,
Wessel-Kroeschell, Whitaker, Whitead, Winckler, Wise, Zirkelbach
Republicans (9): Anderson, Baudler, Clute, Jacobs, May, Rayhons, Schickel,
Tomenga, Wiencek
AGAINST (45):
Democrats (8): Bailey, Huser, Lykam, Mertz, Quirk, Schueller, Thomas,
Wenthe
Republicans (37): Alons, Arnold, Boal, Chambers, De Boef, Deyoe, Dolecheck,
Drake, Forristall, Gipp, Granzow, Grassley, Greiner, Heaton, Hoffman,
Horbach, Huseman, Kaufmann, Lukan, L. Miller, S. Olson, Paulsen,
Pettengill, Raecker, Rants, Rasmussen, Roberts, Sands, Soderberg, Struyk,
Tjepkes, Tymeson, Van Engelenhoven, Van Fossen, Watts, Windschitl, Worthan
Not voting (1): Republican: Upmeyer*
* Upmeyer said she intended to vote “no” but had problems with her voting
machine.
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