Michigan will become the 38th state to ban smoking in bars and restaurants thanks to legislation approved by lawmakers last week – legislation that was long overdue.

Supporters of a smoking ban such as the American Cancer Society have been working for over a decade to get this done.  They got pretty close last year when both the House and Senate approved competing bills to ban smoking, but differences between the chambers were never ironed out and smoke-free advocates suffered a crushing defeat.

When I entered office, I vowed to not let that happen again.  Residents of Cass and St. Joseph counties overwhelmingly support a smoking ban, which makes sense considering nearly 80 percent of Michigan residents are nonsmokers.

Earlier this year, I voted on the House plan to ban smoking in bars and restaurants, but that plan stalled out in the Senate because it exempted casinos, cigar bars and tobacco shops.

Senate leaders wanted a total ban, so as not to create an unfair competitive advantage for some types of businesses over others.  Truth be told, I personally would have preferred an exemption for private clubs, but I was willing to accept a compromise in order to get this done.

And so, apparently, was the Senate, which eventually approved the House version with only slight changes, thanks in large part to the hard work of Sen. Ron Jelinek.

The smoking ban legislation, which Gov. Granholm has said she will sign into law, prohibits smoking in most public indoor places and places of employment.  Violators of the ban face a $100 fine for the first violation and a $500 fine for subsequent violations.  The legislation gives the Department of Community Health the ability to enforce the smoking ban, as it would other health code violations.

The ban, which goes into effect on May 1, 2010, also requires restaurants to remove ashtrays and put up “no smoking” signs.

Everybody, smokers included, understands that secondhand smoke is harmful.  According to the surgeon general, nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke have a 20-percent to 30-percent increased risk of developing lung cancer and a 30-percent increased chance of developing heart disease.

For far too long, Michigan has lagged behind when it comes to protecting residents from this public health hazard.  I am proud we were able to get this done.

State Rep. Matt Lori
59th District
Michigan House of Representatives

Source:  Op-Ed news release from state Rep. Matt Lori (R-Constantine)