Senator says support for smoking ban growing
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By JoANNE YOUNG / Lincoln Journal Star
Debate by state senators on a border-to-border smoking ban (LB395) has yet to be scheduled in this early part of the session, but the bill’s sponsor hopes it comes up soon.
Sen. Joel Johnson of Kearney wants an up or down vote from his colleagues this time — no long debate like last session.
When the bill comes back, Johnson wants it to resemble Lincoln’s ban more than it does now. He would change the amended bill so it does not allow cities, counties or villages to opt out of the ban with a vote of residents.
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The Legislature came close to passing the Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act (LB395) in 2007, which would ban smoking statewide at worksites and other public places.
The bill had been amended to allow any city or village to vote on a less stringent law, referred to as an opt-out option.
Bill sponsors were Sens. Joel Johnson of Kearney, Ray Aguilar of Grand Island and Arnie Stuthman of Platte Center.
Johnson, a former surgeon, had modeled the bill after the Lincoln smoking ban and was unhappy about the opt-out clause. He pulled the bill before a final vote. When it comes up again early this session, he wants it to be close to its original form.
With some senators in favor of allowing local communities to determine whether businesses can allow or not allow smoking, the debate is expected to come down to public health, the rights of business owners and the rights of employees to work in a safe environment.
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A poll paid for by the American Cancer Society’s Nebraska division and released Tuesday showed support is high among 500 adults surveyed in early December. The poll showed that in the 10 months since the last survey, support for prohibiting smoking in most public places is up ever so slightly from 69 percent to 72 percent.
The survey was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies of Alexandria, Va. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.38 percent.
The poll showed those who strongly opposed the ban decreased from 22 percent to 17 percent between February and December.
Support is still highest in the Omaha-centered 2nd Congressional District, where 76 percent favor the ban, and lowest in the 3rd District — central and western Nebraska — at 68 percent.
About one-fourth of people surveyed said the rights of smokers and business owners are more important than the rights of employees and customers in businesses that would be affected. Seventy percent said the opposite.
“In spite of a vocal opposition to it (in the Legislature), the support for legislation is strong and appears to be getting stronger,” Johnson said.
Ted Wright of Ted’s Tobacco is one of those businesses affected by Lincoln’s ban. Lincoln does not exempt smoke shops from its ban, but the statewide law likely would.
Wright said that on general principles, each business should be able to “call its own shots.” He would not oppose the statewide ban as long as smoke shops were exempted, however.
The Lincoln smoking ban has hurt his business, he said, because people cannot sample the products they’re thinking about buying.
“But it didn’t put me out of business. I’m doing well enough,” he said.
People that come into his store from out-of-town especially do not understand why they can’t sample the tobacco, Wright said.
Reach JoAnne Young at 473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com.
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Ban smoking wrote on January 22, 2008 3:28 pm:
Bonnie wrote on January 22, 2008 8:03 pm:
BYOB wrote on January 23, 2008 4:19 pm:
I think we should all be careful what we listen to from Dr. Joel Johnson, of the 700,000 Physicians and doctors in the united states how do you account for 120,000 accidental deaths at the hands of Doctors every year? so how cedible is he?
And I say this smoking ban is none other than a cop out because business' can't make it without the smokers money and they want to force smokers back into their business establishments. Don't fall for this. "
rt wrote on January 24, 2008 10:44 pm:
Please, please send your post to our state senators.....I mean it...you are right on!
You are so correct. Nobody has ever asked Senator Johnson to step up to the plate with his "statistics". Basically, Senator Johnson and his supporters can enjoy 85% of Nebraska's venues on any given day....so, what is he worried about? The waiters and waitresses who now work in Lincoln go OUTSIDE to SMOKE on their breaks!!!!
72%....ah, I wonder???? Has ANYONE HELD HIM ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS "FINDINGS"?
Many of us non-smokers are FED UP with Nebraska becoming a NANNY GOVERNMENT! If you can't find a lovely place to go on Saturday night in Lincoln, Omaha, and thousands of smoke free venues across our state such as: museums, malls, theaters, school events, grocery stores, city buildings, libraries, pools, hotels, motels, Bob Devaney Complex, Pershing, Quest Center, hospitals, nursing homes, restaurants, bars, etc..etc....well...you must be stupid.
Relax everyone....non smokers are already ruling the world...allow a few private bar owners the RIGHT to say: If you want to smoke, come on in! If not....you already rule most of the state...so, go for it! Bullies??? I think so. Senator Johnson wants an "even playing field" because he knows bars that allow smoking are PACKED! Uhmmmm...nobody FORCES nonsmokers to go to smoking bars....so WHY DO THEY???? They already RULE most of this state.....so what is the problem???? Go to the smoke free venues and let 10-15% of Nebraskans have a few little spots to smoke. Oh, I forgot....EVERYONE IS SUPPOSED TO LOSE MONEY! "
BYOB, Remember when wrote on January 31, 2008 1:43 pm:
sg wrote on February 5, 2008 8:20 pm: