Jun 8, 2009

ACS rally at the Capitol could pressure a smoking ban vote in the Senate


The much needed and popular workplace smoking ban that passed the House last month may see some action in the Senate this week, based on events in the Capitol in Lansing this week.

That event is the American Cancer Society’s annual Celebration at the State Capitol set for Tuesday. The stated mission of the annual celebration is to “encourage state legislators to make cancer a number one priority,” and smoking and secondhand smoke, the leading causes of cancer, are always major targets.

The more than 600 volunteers will spend the entire day at the Capitol, and the day includes a morning rally, groups of constitutes visiting their Representative and Senator, a Relay For Life event on the lawn of the State Capitol and a closing ceremony. Although registration for the event is already closed because of so many people signing up, you can still come out and show your support.

There is little but politics stopping this bill from going forward. The deadly and harmful effects of secondhand smoke is undisputed, and the evidence from the 38 other states and numerous foreign countries with a ban and new studies that demonstrate a ban will not hurt a bar or restaurant’s business debunks the final argument for implementing a ban.

But the push to get the bill a vote in the Senate over the objections of Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, has been won by the overwhelming support of those voters who support a ban, and they have been relentless in their advocacy.

It’s events like Tuesday’s ACS rally that really demonstrates to lawmakers the support this smoking ban has, and Tuesday’s event may again tip the scales toward a vote in the Senate.

7 comments:

Not Anonymous said...

Four links in your piece and three of them you're using yourself as a reference.

You say things are undisputed, but as usual, you're either wrong or lying.

There may be little but politics stopping it, but there is little but politics pushing it as well.

Communications guru said...

That is correct, brett, I am using my writing as refrences. Once again, brett, the Surgeon General’s report on secondhand smoke is undisputed, there there is not one single scientific report that disputes it. If you have one that does, please present it, brett.

Anonymous said...

These smoking bans will probably go down in history as one of the greatest marketing scams ever.
Here's the beginning of the ban movement in the USA.
www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?ia=143&id=14912

Here are the instructions from Johnson and Johnsons' (makers of cessation products) RWJ Foundation
www.no-smoke.org/pdf/CIA_Fundamentals.pdf

Anonymous said...

The tax exempt American Cancer Society is getting plenty of money from Johnson and Johnson since they bacame a political action committee (PAC), plus taking my tax money. They aren't getting any more from me.

Communications guru said...

Please.

That evil ACS. How dare they try and stop cancer in America.

Anonymous said...

When they were EDUCATING, I had a lot of respect for them. Now that they are a tax exempt political action committee, they should have their tax exempt status removed.

Communications guru said...

An opinion shared by no one but you.