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Time for states to clear the air: Smoking bans save money and lives
KC Star
1/26/2010
Snuffing out smoking in public places has moved a step closer to reality in Missouri. That’s news worth cheering, even if lawmakers may not rush to approve a smoke-free law in 2010.
The conversation has to start somewhere, and newly introduced House Bill 1766 gets a lot of things right.
It would prohibit smoking in restaurants, bars and casinos. It would take precedence over weaker, existing smoke-free laws, including those in Kansas City and St. Louis. And, of course, the measure would protect the health of residents in dozens of cities that have refused to ban smoking.
Opponents are expected to trot out the canard that Missouri shouldn’t be telling private businesses what to do, despite the existence of all kinds of worthwhile state and federal consumer protection laws.
Smoke-free legislation saves lives by driving down the rate of heart attacks and lung disease among people who stop smoking or who are exposed to secondhand smoke.
A new law could reduce medical expenses for smokers and cut state spending on Medicaid.
In Kansas, the Senate has approved a smoke-free bill, but the bill is stuck in the House. With Gov. Mark Parkinson’s support, the legislation needs to be pushed to the front of the line and signed into law.
In a year of budget crunches in both states, Kansas and Missouri legislators should pass smoke-free bills, which would be good for residents and save money for the states.
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