The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

Bill supporters advocate smoke-free workplac

By Kevin Boneske - Daily News Staff

A bill that would ban smoking statewide in taverns and restaurants by 2010 cleared a Senate committee this week, but opponents of the measure don't believe lawmakers will give it final approval this year.

The Senate Public Health Committee voted 3-2 in favor of SB150, in which smoking would be banned in workplaces, but that ban wouldn't take effect for taverns and restaurants until Jan. 1, 2010.

State Senator, Roger Breske (D-Eland), has criticized the committee's action, which didn't include an amendment to exempt taverns.

“We just feel that they haven't worked with us enough to come up with a compromise,” Breske said. “They just want to jam this bill down people's throats and tell them, ‘Hey, you're going to not have smoking in your places anymore.'”

Gov. Jim Doyle supports a statewide smoking ban, which can only be accomplished if the state Assembly and Senate pass the bill. Breske said he doesn't believe the Republican-controlled Assembly will take up the measure this year.

“The Assembly don't even care about it - they're not going to take it up,” he said. “So, if we want do something - pass something - that we can get to the governor's desk, we should work out a compromise to get the job done.”

Breske said he believes the smoking ban bill passed by the Senate committee is “pure politics.”

Sen. (Fred) Risser (D-Madison) wants a vote on it,” he said. “He's got non-smoking in Madison. Madison is smoke-free already, so why is he worried about it? We'll run the north end of the state and let him run his Madison, if he likes it. It's a feud.”

Tavern League of Wisconsin President Rob Swearingen, who owns the Al-Gen Restaurant in the Rhinelander area, said the Tavern League is opposing SB150, but believes it is unlikely to proceed any further in the Legislature.

Swearingen said the Tavern League doesn't object to a ban on smoking in dining areas of restaurants, but wants bar areas and taverns exempted.

He said he expects the Tavern League's board of directors will be discussing SB150 when it meets next week.

While the Tavern League is willing to go along with a compromise so that there would be no smoking in restaurant dining areas, Swearingen said smoke-free advocates are insisting that the ban apply to all areas.

“They just won't compromise the issue,” he said.

Oneida County's tobacco-free coordinator, Laura Mays, said committee approval of SB150 is progress, though she believes it has a “loophole” to allow smoking in restaurants and taverns for two more years.

Mays said the measure's prospects for proceeding in the legislature don't look good at this point with Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker not having scheduled the bill for a vote.

“This is really going to be a struggle,” she said.

Mays said banning smoking in the workplace, to include restaurants and taverns, is intended to protect public health.

While smoking is already prohibited in buildings owned by Oneida County, the county's Board of Health last year had been looking into extending that ban on county-owned grounds as well. However, Mays said that measure became a union issue and was subsequently put on hold.

She said a ban on county grounds has been considered because of concerns about people smoking outside producing a “funnel of smoke” near building entrances.

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Comments »

Jerry wrote on Jan 12, 2008 12:02 PM:

" what about smokers right's why not pass a law making taverns or all establishments post outside that they are a smoking establishment if nonsmokers don't like it dont go in. plane and simple they can't complain because they know ahead of time people smoke in there. Employee's would also know when applying for a job that they allow smoking. If I take a job as a fire fighter I know the risk involved before I apply. Same with a smoking establishment They know the risk's when they apply. We already have too maney laws "

PAT PURTELL wrote on Jan 11, 2008 2:43 PM:

" Bottom line its very simple...if smoking is so bad - make it illegal...oh wait - the state would lose millions, so that won't happen, but don't let a small buisiness sell a legal substance and make a profit? Whats wrong with this? At the Madison hearing on the smoking ban the "Smoke Free" people were told their taxes would go up, if we made smoking illegal...isn't it funny that these same people won't sponsor a bill to make smoking illegal, yet continue to sound off around the stae, telling people how dangerous it is? "

Bob wrote on Jan 11, 2008 8:22 AM:

" The "Smoking Ban" should be the law no smoking in Bars, Taverns, Restaurents, Public Buildings period. No one has a right to blow smoke in other folks direction and foul up the air. It's not only smart to have this ban it's healthy. Think of your children people. Folks it will never pass as the Republicans are in control of the Assembly and they are for all the money boys and girls so it won't pass you can bet on that. "

Harrison wrote on Jan 11, 2008 6:01 AM:

" It seems to me the rhinelander daily news is one-sided. The article continues on and on about the public health community not looking for any compromise on the issue but the simple fact is, there is absolutely NO compromise when it comes to public health. Risser from Madison has a duty to serve the people in Wisconsin and to ensure a better future for our children. Mr. Breske simply doesn't understand the severity of not being a part of the solution. He is costing the state valuable healthcare dollars and he is doing nothing other than letting tobacco products kill Wisconsin residents. Breske, it's time to lead into the future for our state. I'm sure you would be feeling different if a family member died from a tobacco related illness through their years of service in a tavern. What would you say to the families who have lost someone? "

The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.