[Speed Gibson,
Tuesday December 12, 2006 at 12:10pm]
Statewide Smoking Ban?
The buzz is on. Expect a statewide smoking ban in 2007. Governor Pawlenty will sign it. That's a given. But I wonder if the Legislature shares his enthusiasm.
The Minneapolis-based DFL leadership no doubt will press hard to get this passed as "two wrongs make a right" relief to the own constituents currently suffering from the local bans. They assume that patrons now fleeing to Anoka, Dakota, and other nearby counties will return. Yes, the crime rate is high, but it should start dropping. Mayor Rybak promises more police and Mike Freeman will soon replace Amy Klobuchar next year as County Attorney.
But will the outer ring suburb and rural legislators want to do to their clubs, VFW's and American Legion posts what Minneapolis and Hennepin County did to so many of theirs? Rural communities are particularly dependent on the philanthropy of these clubs, money that will now have to cover the lost business as in Hennepin County now.
This strikes me as a good issue with which to start the rebuilding of the GOP. Oppose it, demand hearings, wait for the proof that never arrives about second hand smoke being so lethal as to require such an extreme measure. If the DFL presses on, then propose outlawing smoking period, making the DFL vote against it to preserve all that lovely tax money.
Most likely we'll get voted down and skewered in the press regardless, so why not at least have some fun with it? In fact, why not secretly measure the parts per million in the Legislative chambers and compare it to the Park Tavern?
The Minneapolis-based DFL leadership no doubt will press hard to get this passed as "two wrongs make a right" relief to the own constituents currently suffering from the local bans. They assume that patrons now fleeing to Anoka, Dakota, and other nearby counties will return. Yes, the crime rate is high, but it should start dropping. Mayor Rybak promises more police and Mike Freeman will soon replace Amy Klobuchar next year as County Attorney.
But will the outer ring suburb and rural legislators want to do to their clubs, VFW's and American Legion posts what Minneapolis and Hennepin County did to so many of theirs? Rural communities are particularly dependent on the philanthropy of these clubs, money that will now have to cover the lost business as in Hennepin County now.
This strikes me as a good issue with which to start the rebuilding of the GOP. Oppose it, demand hearings, wait for the proof that never arrives about second hand smoke being so lethal as to require such an extreme measure. If the DFL presses on, then propose outlawing smoking period, making the DFL vote against it to preserve all that lovely tax money.
Most likely we'll get voted down and skewered in the press regardless, so why not at least have some fun with it? In fact, why not secretly measure the parts per million in the Legislative chambers and compare it to the Park Tavern?
Tobacco is an anti-depressant.
We do have something to look forward to:
Corruption is Routine