PA Smoking Ban

A possible smoking ban is in the works in Pennsylvania.

The proposed smoking bill in the State Senate is a bill that deserves to die a quick death. Take away the tobacco element, and the the core of the bill is a frightening assault on our liberties hiding behind words like "public health" and "common sense".

Proponents of the bill cite public health. They say that the poor employees and other customers of an establishment are at risk. They fail to mention that most restaurants and many workplaces are already smoke-free. They did so on their own free will and accord. No heavy-handed government regulations caused them to do so. The remaining bars and restaurants that allow smoking have done so again on their own accord.

As customers we have the choice where to go. We vote with our wallets. The fact that there are still bars and restaurants that allow smoking show that there is not a strong enough economic push for every single establishment to go smoke free. So why can't smokers go to a place that allows smoking if they wish, and people who don't want to smoke choose a place that doens't allow it? Seems simple to me.

Lastly, this law is more about government intrusion into our lives. If it was really about public health tobacco would have been banned outright. The reason governments do not do so is because of the huge tax revenue brought in from tobacco. According to the Tax Policy Center, in 2005 Pennsylvania brought in over 1 billion dollars in tax revenue from tobacco. That is a lot of money. Money that funds roads, schools, and even the social programs that bad mouth tobacco. Without this 1 billion dollars we would see cuts in services across the state or higher property and income taxes.

Are we willing to see that happen? Maybe, but I'm willing to bet the same activists who are pushing these bills across the country would be the same ones who would cry when social programs are cut or when taxes go up because of lost tobacco reveune.

Posted by psugrad98 at June 21, 2007 07:52 AM | TrackBack