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More About Ohio Smoking Ban
By Jesse | June 12, 2008 |
I ran across a press release today from a group that is trying to revise Ohio’s Smoking Ban. I think they have a strong case, but unfortunately political correctness is against them.
Here is a few points of interest from the Press Release.
The text on the ballot on the ballot was misleading and incomplete. I obviously voted against Issue 5, but I’m going to do more research in the future on Issues before I vote. I didn’t realize they didn’t have to include the entire language of the measure on the ballot.
Ballot Language: What voters read when they cast their vote for Issue 5 was "Exempt from the smoking restrictions … outdoor patios, private clubs, and family-owned and operated places of business". The ballot measure language did not define "family-owned and operated". A letter dated Nov. 28, 2007 by Ohio Department of Health Director Alvin Jackson states, "Although the entire length of the initiative could not appear on the ballot itself due to space limitations, the exact and complete wording was available in the newspapers and on the websites of the Secretary of State, your county boards of elections, and the initiating organization. The definition is intended to exclude those businesses that operate from the home, have little contact with the public, and only employ family members, thereby limiting exposure to second-hand smoke". There was no definition on the ballot and that missing definition was intended to exclude businesses that operate from the home? Six words would have clarified that virtually no family-owned business would be exempt. Was it really a space issue? Ohioans who did not subscribe to newspapers or have Internet service depended on reading the true language when they voted, not a watered down version that misrepresented the facts.
The Language of Issue 5 was based on a yet to be published study. Issue 5 was certified in April of 2005 while the report was not published until June 2006. Forces, INC has filed complaints with the US Health and Human Services Office regarding this report and some of the claims it makes.
Big Tobacco is everyone’s whipping boy these days, even Big Pharmacy. All you have to do is follow the money. The American Cancer Society worked hard for Issue 5, so much so that I now have news alerts to see whenever Tracy Sabetta, Ohio’s ACS spokesperson, opens her trap. The ACS and many other similar organizations get over $99 Million from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which was set up by Johnson & Johnson and owns nearly $4 Billion in J&J Stock. In case you didn’t know Johnson & Johnson makes Nicoderm CQ and bought Pfizer which makes Nicorette.
IMHO and others, Ohio’s Smoking Ban was written by special interest groups in order to profit off you quitting smoking. It never had the best interest of the Ohioans in mind.
If you live in Ohio, please call your Senators and have them Support SB 195 and SB 346.
Check out Opponents of Ohio Bans to see more on the Anti-Smoking money trail and Ohio’s Bans.
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Tags: ohio, Ohio Smoking Ban, Smoking Bans
Topics: Smoking Bans |
September 15th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I still think there needs to be a change.It still falls back to choice & how I want to run my business. I have never seen or heard of anybody being forced to go into a bar that smokes. It just doesn’t make sense let’s go thru the people outside smoking ( which will leave an oder right there on there cloths) to go inside a place that does not smoke.It is like a person who does not like guns why would they ever go into a gun shop, they wouldn’t it is there choice owning a gun is leagal thou. Why do people think they have to protect me I am an adult.