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Iowa Reconsiders Casino Smoking Exception
DES MOINES, IOWA --
Parties on both sides of the issue want to reconsider Iowa's state law banning smoking at restaurants and bars. Some advocate expanding the law, which would remove the exemption currently provided casinos for their gaming floors.
The exception was placed in the statute after lawmakers realized placing the smoking ban on casinos would cost the state up to $100 million in annual revenue. The Iowa Gaming Association let legislators know how the law would affect state coffers.
And, lo and behold, smoking was no longer such a problem, at least not at casinos. Of course, bar and restaurant owners also lost significant business because of the ban, but that had a lesser impact on revenues, so it wasn't important to state politicians.
But those pushing for including the casinos in the ban are wary of renewed discussion, for there is a new force emerging in the smoking battle. Iowans who want the right to choose whether to smoke, and businessmen who want to make the decision which clientele they are seeking, are asking the ban be rolled back.
Bill Froehlich, bar owner and founder of Choose Freedom Iowa, wants his establishment to have the same right to choose how smoking fits his business that casinos get. He says of the smoking ban, "We've always proclaimed that it's an unconstitutional law that was forced down the throats of the people of Iowa."
Certainly, it seems if smoking were a moral issue, then revenues would not have prevented lawmakers from extending the ban to casinos. And if it is not a moral issue, then why is the government making choices for Froehlich's tavern, or any other bar?
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| Posted by Ward Cleaver on 12/07/2008 05:05:52 PM EST |
REPEALTHESMOKINGBAN.ORG
Democrat stands up to his own and launches Iowa's focal point website in the fight against the smoking ban.
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