It is nice to see the NJ State legislators finally making progress with a proposed ban on smoking in public spaces , save casinos. Just this morning, the bill went to the full Assembly from committee where approval is expected early next week. The State Senate has already approved the proposed legislation and Gov. Dick Codey seems eager to sign the bill into law. By doing so, NJ will become the 11th state in the nation to enact similar legislation. I should add kudos to our Governor, who repeatedly expressed his desire to make the smoking ban a part of his legacy.
I was living in California when the very first anti-smoking ban in the country kicked in on New Years day, 1998. I was a cigarette smoker at the time and I was quick to gripe about the new law to anyone who'd listen. In fact, I especially resented the idea of not being about to smoke at a bar or restaurant. Smoking seemed like such an integral part of the "going out" experience, for me. But you know what, I was wrong. It wasn't long before my attitude on the smoking ban softented considerably. In fact, I ended up smoking less and eventually gave it up. Personally, I'm grateful to the politicians in California who created a climate that encouraged me to smoke less and ultimately quit.
A state-wide smoking ban might seem like a big adjustment, especially to bar and restaurant owners who claim that such a ban might keep customers away. But we'll get used to it here in New Jersey, just like folks in California, Deleware or New York did. A year from now, once the dust settles, the nay-sayers might actually see a bounce in business as they begin to court the non-smokers like me who have been staying away.
It's my firm belief that generating tax revenues off cigarettes (and gambling for that matter) is bad news, morally and policy wise. I suspect that my non-negitiable bias is rooted in the effects sucjh policies have had on my own family.
crossblogged on my little site
http://einkleinesblog.blogspot.com/