Statewide Smoking Ban Up For Debate Again

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Posted: 5:39 PM Mar 23, 2008
Last Updated: 6:27 PM Mar 23, 2008
Email Address: natasha.trelfa@kake.com

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It's an issue that just won't seem to burn out. State leaders will take up the statewide smoking ban bill at the state house again Monday. This time the bill faces a different senate committee.

The bill has worn out its welcome in the judiciary committee. Now, in an effort to move the bill forward, the ways and means committee will discuss the original version . But that version, without the recent amendments, has some fired up.

"I think the last bill had revisions everyone could live with," said Tom Jacob, who owns The Cigar Chateau.

Some worry those revisions could be a thing of the past, as the more restrictive, original version of the state smoking ban bill heads to a new committee this week.

"This is our business and to restrict our business and cut back on what we can do and how we present it to customers is a very devastating thing," explains Jacob.

After sitting in the judiciary committee, the bill now heads to the ways and means committee for discussion. But the amendments exempting a number of buildings won't go with it. Those restrictions would eliminate smoking in everything from veterans facilities and bars to tobacco shops.

"We need to balance the need to improve the quality of life for Kansans with the need for them to continue earning their living," said State Sen. Phil Journey, (R) Haysville.

The move may send law makers back to square one, but they say the need for the bill remains the same.

"There's no doubt in my mind that, based upon statistical evidence, second hand smoke does have a negative effect on individuals," said Journey.

Journey says a bright spot to the bill moving will be that it's exempt from deadlines. The end of session just days away. It gives law makers more time to discuss it.

But as law makers head back to the drawing board, people like Tom Jacob say they just hope that process of give and take doesn't take away too much of his ability to run a business.

"If he wants it to be smoking, fine. If he doesn't want it to be, fine. If he wants both, that's his business, not the government's business," said Jacob.

Jacob is expected to testify against the bill at the committee's hearing Monday morning.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: judy martin Location: newton,ks on Feb 17, 2009 at 01:14 PM
why cant we have smoking and non smoking bars and restraunts? why must we be treated like children?

Posted by: Frank Location: Wichita on Mar 26, 2008 at 01:48 AM
The people who dont smoke have the right to not be inhaling someone else's second hand smoke. The non smoker made a decision not to smoke and they shouldnt have to inihale someone elses decision to kill themself. There is a smoking ban in almost every other state and kansas is just coming up to speed with the rest of the other states. There maybe a rising cost of health care because of obesity but that can be helped with surgery. Also they are not hurting the people around them by eating. They are only hurting themself. When you smoke you hurt other people and their lungs. Its about time that KANSAS finally starts thinking about BANNING smoking in public places.

Posted by: anonymous Location: kansas on Mar 25, 2008 at 06:50 AM
its always about smoking, never about drunk driving or gun control, I say it is up to ourselfs to decide if we want to put ourselves in harms way. just like you, when you go to bars and drink and then be stupid and drive home, who are you hurting then? or when young kids are allowed to get a hold of guns because its Allowed or they were not locked up.so why should i have to suffer as a smoker at the hands of a drunk driver, or the man down the street that sold a gun to a 16 year old. think about it

Posted by: Marty Location: Ks on Mar 25, 2008 at 05:21 AM
I will post what I have said on Ks.com. Smoking suxs period. If you want to smoke your gross siggy's than go to your vehicle role the window's up and smoke AWAY. My mom died from smoking she had done it since she was a teen till she was 76.Do you know how hard it was to take/see her(not able to even walk) at the doctor's visit and he say there is NOTHING I or we can do take her home make her compfy.... She died the next night. She had cancer in the liver,lungs,kidney's etc in her whole body ..So SMOKE AWAY. Goodluck.Mom was a freight train smoker. Ban it.

Posted by: Allie Location: Wichita on Mar 24, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Tina you are correct,however if smokers get lung cancer ect.. health insurance covers that and Dr's will give them drugs to help them stop smoking but insurance does not cover surgery to reduce weight

Posted by: Gail Location: Topeka on Mar 24, 2008 at 06:23 PM
I am a smoker and don't agree with the state wide smoking ban. I could live with smoking outside if they would build a place for us to go away from the non-smokers. This is just like any other debate if someone doesn't like something they complain about it. Well, I don't like not being able to smoke somewhere out of the weather. Where is our protection of equal rights in this? We are just as entitled to have a say or vote in this as anyone else. I am not up at the statehouse protesting all the drinkers/alcoholics in this state or city. Let people take care of the matter themselves. The government needs to quit interfering with our lives.

Posted by: Tina Location: Kansas on Mar 24, 2008 at 05:37 PM
According to a recent study, it is NOT the smokers that are increasing the cost of healthcare, as these fanatical people may try to lead you to believe. Obesity is. Does this mean we need to close all restaraunts that serve unhealthy food? People have choices and need to start taking responsibility for their choices. Non-smokers that are sensitive to smoke need to patronize non-smoking establishments. The establishment's owner needs to be able to make the decision on which way to go.. after all, they are the ones that are invested in their business. These people have 'control' issues. Many times, people that seek to control others are lacking in self-discipline, so they seek to control external factors. If they want to fight for clean air, they need to start with Kansas law-makers allowing companies into the state that dis-regard the 'Clean Air Act'.. or rally to seek enforcement of standards for emmissions control. Cigarrette smoke should be the least of their worries.

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 24, 2008 at 05:11 PM
just ban smoking already. why should those of us have to suffer from someone elses bad habits!!

Posted by: Vickie Location: Houston on Mar 24, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Welcome to the Nazi state.

Posted by: jim Location: colorado springs on Mar 24, 2008 at 01:33 PM
A person should be able to run his business not the government. Everyone in this state has gone nuts. Even our gambling casions have gone smoke free and some dumb #$%^ as even mentioned a law against smoking in your vehicle. God help us! What will be the next thing taken from our freedom? The bible because someone does not believe in it?

Posted by: Frank Location: Wichita on Mar 24, 2008 at 01:00 AM
There is smoking bans all over the country and Kansas is just falling behind. The second hand smoke is harmful and the people who dont smoke shouldnt have to suffer because someone else wants to kill themselves with smoking. There either needs to be a partitioned room for smoking in all restraunts or do like the other states/countries and move the smoking outdoors. This way the people who choose not to smoke dont get to inhale the second hand smoke from the people who choose to smoke.

Posted by: Phil Location: Wichita on Mar 23, 2008 at 09:44 PM
Kansas is already behind most other states when it comes to regulating smoking in public places. Residents should be insisting that they actually get something effective passed soon. I'm getting sick of having legislators purposely sabotaging this legislation so that nothing passes. A smoking ban must be just that, not something that is a ban in name only. You can't exempt restaurants, bars and casinos and still call it a smoking ban. Most states have banned smoking in these venues, and Kansas needs to do the same.

Posted by: Di Location: Wichita on Mar 23, 2008 at 09:22 PM
can i breathe some clean air yet?

Posted by: Paul cochrane Location: perth western on Mar 23, 2008 at 08:21 PM
I live in perth western australia we have a smoking ban in every pub shop cafe everywhere it good im a smoke every 1 just go outside for smoke they have built gardens to smoke in i thought it would be a big differenc but it isnt you just cant smoke were patrons are we just go outside just pass it from paul

Posted by: Josie Location: Centeral Kansas on Mar 23, 2008 at 08:08 PM
I wish they would ban smoking but if they do who will police this? It is suppose to be banned at our school but no one has the courage to enforce the rule.

Posted by: AJ Location: Wichita on Mar 23, 2008 at 07:59 PM
Jacob is right it is his business not the goverments business. We need less goverment period.

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