Big Government Push to ban smoking in private businesses

Here we go again. While I'm not a big fan of ciggarette smoking, I'm less of a fan of prohibitionists, so I tend to root for the smokers out of principle.

Big government once again is sticking its nose where it doesn't belong telling businessses how to run their operations. They need to let the market decide on these matters. Some businesses are non smoking. Some businesses permit smoking. That choice should be that of the current business.

We have too much regulation as it is in Michigan. The last thing we need to do is be like the land of fruits and nuts in California.

From the AP

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Lawmakers renew push for smoking ban in bars, restaurants
1/29/2007, 6:07 p.m. ET
By DAVID EGGERT
The Associated Press

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — State lawmakers are reviving a push to ban smoking in Michigan's bars, restaurants and workplaces.

Earlier efforts have been snuffed out in the Legislature for nearly seven years. But supporters hope a power shift inside the Capitol and momentum from a U.S. surgeon general's report will add Michigan to the growing list of states with tough anti-smoking laws.

"It's time for the Legislature to take a stand on this life-and-death issue," said state Sen. Tom George, a Republican physician from Kalamazoo County's Texas Township. He's sponsoring the legislation along with Sen. Ray Basham of Taylor and Rep. Brenda Clack of Flint, both Democrats.

Previous bills to prohibit smoking in bars and restaurants never got a vote when the Legislature was controlled by Republicans. But now Democrats control the House and the Senate has a new GOP leader.

Advocates say their push is getting more traction and note that seven states, including Ohio, enacted tough anti-smoking laws last year.