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Dillon, House Dems want to have it both ways on smoking ban

By Nick, Section News
Posted on Thu May 21, 2009 at 05:37:29 AM EST
Tags: Dillon, smoking ban, Detroit, casinos, hypocrisy (all tags)

Apparently 12.9 percent unemployment isn't quite enough for House Speaker Andy Dillon and the Democratic caucus. Yesterday, on Dillon's direction, the House Regulatory Reform Committee approved a ban on smoking in bars, restaurants and every other indoor business establishment you could dream up... almost.

The Associated Press reports that the Democrats' bill carves out one not insignificant but highly incongruous exception. Business is booming on casino floors across the Motor City and it would suffer were the legislature to eliminate patrons' right to light a square. Banning smoking would cost the casinos more than a couple of jobs and the Democrats can't have that. Killing jobs in bars and restaurants... that's OK. Because apparently some jobs are more important than others.

"Last time I checked, picking and choosing what businesses fail in Michigan is not in our lawmakers' job description," said Lance Binoniemi, executive director of the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association.

Representative Jim Stamas provided the lone dissenting voice in committee, but even some Lefties recognize the destructive nature of their Majority's legislation. The AP:

Committee chair Bert Johnson, D-Highland Park, said he supports broadening the exemption to include bars, small businesses he said are struggling to survive "our tough economy." One approach would permit smoking in any business with an age requirement of 21 years. That would exempt some bars from the ban but not restaurants.

The rest of Johnson's Party disagrees. And we've played this game before.

We can go around and around about personal freedom, health, general welfare, the whole kit and caboodle. Sadly, the concept of a smoking "ban" appears to be a settled issue in the legislature. Last cycle the House did what they did yesterday, voting to kill jobs but only certain jobs. The Senate at least managed a little consistency, voting to ban smoking inside public establishments across the board... no carve-outs for the Democrats' special interest pals.

Then again, maybe the elimination of personal freedom ISN'T a settled issue. Senate Republicans aren't idiots. They know that an across the board ban on smoking would never fly in the House. By approving a ban on smoking they're effectively ensuring a ban on smoking never becomes law. Shrewd.

Dillon and the House Dems failed to move the Senate bill last year and if the Reg Reform Committee's actions this week are any indication they haven't learned a single new trick. So round and round we go. Which is pretty OK on this end. In their zeal to kill SOME jobs while managing to protect their political donors and local cash cows, Team Dillon winds up accidentally protecting jobs and personal freedom.

Oops.

< Thursday in the Sphere: May 21 | Michigan Unemployment almost 13% >

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Dillon, House Dems want to have it both ways on smoking ban | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 hidden)

I'm so glad to see... (none / 0) (#1)
by KG One on Thu May 21, 2009 at 06:33:41 AM EST

...that their respect for property rights is right up there where it always was.

And since they're obviously so concerned for our well-being, I'm waiting for some schmoe to propose a bill mandating that we need to have our hands held when we use the restroom.

Any takers on that one???

Cigar bars and whatnot (none / 0) (#3)
by goppartyreptile on Thu May 21, 2009 at 09:36:04 AM EST

I think that the first thing we need to do is print up "wanted" fliers to post in every cigar bar in this state. Make sure all those adults, who voluntarily choose to keep a humidor in a PRIVATE ESTABLISHMENT and unwind with a good stoogie and a scotch know whether or not their elected representative is trying to take away their right.

I also hope that this thing gets defeated again, for reasons above and beyond freedom and all the laudable goals mentioned in this blog.

See, if we can keep the nitwits fighting about tobacco, we keep them pinned down.

(and I do realize that quite a few well meaning folks are involved in this, and am not attacking them. I'm saving my ire for the ones that are obviously gleeful at the chance to use their government to attack a group of folks that they happen to not like... read comments on this legislation in your newspaper, or certain blogs, and you will see what I'm talking about)

If and when they win this fight, they aren't going to disband, they are going to find something else.

And we all know that taxing soda will improve the public health, transfatty acids are a blight on our republic, and super-sized fries are literally killing us.

A long time ago I read the forward to book called Rich Dad Poor Dad in which the author described his first money making scheme.

See, he and his buddies were going through their neighborhood, collecting used toothpaste tubes. After they had a good amount, they proceeded to start a fire and melt them down... Why you ask?

They wanted to get the lead inside the tubes. Yes, that LEAD.

They were making their own coins.

And it got me thinking about life in the fifties, and I realized how unenlightened people were.

See, I'm guessing that one of their neighbors, after waking up and eating eggs and steak for breakfast, and maybe a scotch for fortitude, went off to work... and smoked the whole way.

Then they went to the office, smoked some more, had some meetings where everybody smoked, and ate another big steak for lunch, then went and picked the kids up to take them to the movies.

Smoking the whole way, with no seat belts or car seats for the kids, they went into the movie theater.... which had ashtrays in the arm rests. They then watched some horribly patronizing and sexist and racist and conformist movie, (which I'm sure was approved by HUAC) until Mom said it was time-- and they rushed to the hospital, where they awaited their latest increase in their carbon footprint... I mean little brother.

And the Dad sat in the hall smoking, and the doctor pulled the kids out with tongs, probably with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, and the family went home. Where Dad had another drink, brushed his teeth with lead lined toothpaste, put his last cigarette out in the ashtray next to his bed, and rolled over to do it all again the next day.

And somehow our species has survived.

I don't doubt the health risks (to myself), and intend to quit the first Saturday after the first Tuesday in November of next year-- I've got some big campaigns to work on.

But aren't we going a little too far?

Freakin' great by quigonjames, 05/21/2009 04:15:05 PM EST (none / 0)

Just what I need (none / 0) (#4)
by RushLake on Thu May 21, 2009 at 10:40:20 AM EST

Someone to hold my hand while I'm using the restroom. Oh that it would be Andy Drillem or Ray Bashthem.

I once suggest in a letter to Bashthem that he pursue a mandate that all restroom doors in public places, such as restaurants, open out. How stupid is the sign that says, "all employees must wash hands before turning to work"? After they religiously obey and wash their hands, they have to put them on the handle to pull the door open. Bashthem didn't respond.

This is insane! (none / 0) (#5)
by Crippy on Thu May 21, 2009 at 01:03:51 PM EST

A smoking ban along with a bill for a federal mandate for employers to provide a week of paid vacation for all employees, full and part-time. Michigan, America, we are all in trouble!