Residual Forces

The smoking ban is making its way through the various committees at the Minnesota capital. This week it is in the Senate Business, Industry and Jobs Committee. The Tavern League is there fighting it, and distributed this information (below) yesterday.

Freedom loving Minnesotans who don’t want to see Minnesota become the ultimate nanny state should call Senators on the committee today, they are voting on the ban tomorrow (Wednesday).

Tavern League of Minnesota
February 12, 2007

Dear Business, Industry and Jobs Committee Members:
The Tavern League of MN representing thousands of small businesses, staff and customers urges you to oppose SF 238 for the following reasons:

There is no such thing as a level playing field. There will always be a border, a casino and noncompliance. This bill will allow cities and counties to pass stricter regulations thus eliminating the level playing field lie.

Second hand smoke is not mustard gas. Not one study, including the Surgeon Generals’ study, proves any statistical scientific evidence that low levels of smoke one would normally find today in any ventilated bar or restaurant are a danger to healthy adults. http://encyclopedia.smokersclub.com/163.html http://www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/regv29n4/v29n4-4.pdf

Prohibition did not work the first time and it will not work now. Norway and Ireland showed increased rates of smoking one year after their ban. Teen smoking rates are 49%. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/1900/peopleevents/pande4.html

ND voted down a smoking ban, 30-15. CO and Hawaii have introduced legislation for exemptions to their ban similar to 12 other states with smoking ban exemptions.
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/02/09/news/topnews/128520.txt

Unlike government buildings, hospitals and other public buildings no one is forced to work or patronize our bars or restaurants. Our Constitution guarantees our private property rights. http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.overview.html

The Hennepin County Impact Statement showed the lowest percentage of growth in the 7 county metro area. Hennepin County showed a .15% growth in liquor sales, well below the 3.5% of the year before. These numbers included liquor stores. The metro average increase of 1.6% compared to Anoka County with no ban was increased 7.2%. Bloomington was down 6.71%
http://wwwa.co.hennepin.mn.us/files/HCInternet/Static%20Files/142367312HC_Econ_Impact.pdf

MN DHS Commissioner Kevin Goodno’s certified tobacco use costs are $294.4 million in 2005, not the $2 billion the antismoking advocates claim. Bad science leads to bad legislation. Will provide documentation on request.

In the House, the Reps on the Commerce committee should hear from you too.