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Robert martin says he's pretty much married to his nightclub. He even lives right above it. He's owned Nathan P. Murphy's for 28 years, but his relationship with the club almost cost him his life.
"Many of nights I would crawl out of my apartment and gasp for air," says Martin.
Martin's not a smoker, but he was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a common lung disease associated with smoking.
"When the doctor told me to change my environment or I would die, it took me five seconds to make that decision," says Martin.
So for the last two years, he's run a smoke free setup.
"It's been overwhelmingly supported even by smokers," says Martin.
Some Missouri lawmakers are trying to make all public establishments smoke-free, citing risks from secondhand smoke. . . .
The debate is bound to be heated at the state capital. But for Martin, it was a choice he had to make. And because of that, he's now able sit among his customers in the place he loves.
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Even though there is no hint of immediate action, the mere thought of the Jefferson City Council proposing an ordinance that would make all buildings smoke-free has left some wondering why the government would step in to ask smokers to step out before they light up.
Almost seven years ago, Jason Jordan bought Mortimer Kegley's, and while he is not a smoker, he says the idea of an ordinance banning smoking inside bars like his is something he ardently opposes.
Lake Saint Louis has moved a step closer to a citywide ban on smoking in public places, including restaurants and bars.
Aldermen agreed during a work session Monday to conduct a public hearing on the bill during their next meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at Lake Saint Louis City Hall, 200 Civic Center Drive.
The board also agreed with Mayor Mike Potter's recommendation to notify businesses of the proposed ban and the public hearing.
"I want to make sure everyone in Lake Saint Louis hears about this and has an opportunity to give us their input," said Alderman John Pellerito, Ward 3.
Several state representatives have filed legislation to create uniform, statewide smoke-free standards in bars and restaurants.
House Bill 1766 is sponsored by Reps. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, and Walk Bivins, R-St. Louis County.
"While other states have taken the lead on improving indoor air quality, Missouri has been among the last holdouts," Schupp said. "The time has come for uniformity statewide to create a healthy environment in all public places and replace the existing patchwork of local restrictions."
Because of the lack of a statewide law on smoking in bars and restaurant, restrictions vary widely in Missouri.
A bipartisan pair of St. Louis County state representatives have introduced legislation that would ban smoking in all bars, restaurants, casinos and workplaces in Missouri.
The legislators say a statewide ban is needed to protect non-smokers from the harmful health and financial effects of secondhand smoke exposure.
"It's not really a ban on smoking," said Rep. Jill Schupp, the lead Democratic sponsor of the bill. "It's taking smoking out of public places to protect the patrons and the people who work in those places."
But Jeremiah Gill, a local filmmaker and patron of Patton Alley Pub, disagrees. . . .
In November, 65 percent of St. Louis County voters approved an indoor smoking ban for most public places.
"With that kind of mandate, I felt like it was something we ought to consider statewide," said Rep. Walt Bivins, the bill's main Republican sponsor.
Since the state's three largest cities -- Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield -- each have some form of indoor smoking ban, Bivins said there should be "one uniform ban" to make the varying rules less confusing.
Lyle Hoskins wouldn’t have been fighting mad had the city council’s vote gone against implementing a smoking ban beginning July 1 for events at the Admiral Coontz Recreation Center. However, the head coach and trainer of the Hannibal Armory Boxing Club admitted Wednesday he is pleased with the council’s decision.
“I’m definitely happy about it,” he said.
Even when no one is smoking in the armory, Hoskins says the odor lingers.
“You can smell it . . .
Hoskins was not alone in his support of the smoking ban. Some of the participants at Wednesday’s senior dance in the armory also backed the council’s decision.
“I’m glad,” said Lucia Arnold of Barry, Ill., who is a non-smoker. “I don’t want to be breathing anyone’s stale smoke.”
“I feel it should be smoke free. If they want to smoke they can go outside,” said Rose Curfman of Hannibal. “Smoking is not good for your health. So many folks have emphysema and don’t need to be around smoke.”
The Admiral Coontz Recreation Center will become a smoke-free zone later this year.
Following a lengthy discussion of the proposal by members of the Hannibal City Council on Tuesday night at city hall, the council supported a recommendation of the Park Board and approved enacting a smoking ban in the facility for all public and private events. Under the current guidelines, smoking inside the building can occur during private events such as the Wing Ding, Chili Cookoff and wedding receptions.
When the smoke cleared the measure was approved by a 4-3 margin. Opposing the measure were Councilmen Kevin Knickerbocker, Jason Janes and Barry Louderman. In favor of the change were Councilmen Louis Barta and Jeff Lyng, Mayor Roy Hark and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Behymer.
With the vote tied at 3, Behymer, who earlier stated his willingness to “speak in behalf of those who do not want to be exposed to second-hand smoke,” voted in favor of the ban. . . .
Chris Atkinson, director of the Hannibal Parks and Recreation Department, cited three issues in seeking the change: the health and safety of those who use the building; to protect parks department personnel who frequently are working during events where smoking occurs; and to protect the interior of the building.
This map shows Missouri Medicaid enrollment and smoking rates by county. The darker the color, the greater the percentage of people in Medicaid. Counties with cross-hatching have the highest smoking rates, followed by those with diagonal lines. . . .
Helping smokers quit would save money in the long run. But at a time when lawmakers are being forced to make budget cuts, it’s going to be a difficult sell.
Still, Missouri made about $108 million in tobacco taxes last year and received another $152 million in tobacco settlement funds. Most of that money goes to uses other than the one for which it was intended: helping smokers quit and preventing kids from starting.
Missouri Medicaid should cover anti-smoking drugs and counseling, the same as it covers drugs to treat diabetes and high cholesterol — two other conditions that, left untreated, add greatly to long-term health costs.
Legislators should require that private health insurance sold in our state provide similar coverage, too. Quitting smoking is hard enough. There’s no justification, moral or economic, for making it any harder.
Smoking would be banned in many public places statewide under legislation proposed Monday by two St. Louis-area legislators.
The bill, which has not yet been assigned to a committee, would ban smoking in restaurants, bars, shopping malls and gambling facilities, among other public places.
"We're on three sides surrounded by no smoking states," said Rep. Walt Bivins, R-St. Louis, the bill's primary sponsor. "I just think it's time we pass this for the health of all of us."
Bivins and Rep. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, hammered out the specifics of the legislation with support from the American Lung Association and American Cancer Society, who have, in the past, opposed bans at the city and county level because they were too lax for the groups' liking.
Some lawmakers in Missouri say a piece of legislation filed last week calling for a smoke-free state is a bill promoting good health throughout the state.
As it's written, the bill would ban smoking in restaurants, bars, and numerous other public venues.
With the support of the American Cancer Society and the American Heart and Lung Association, Rep. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur and co-sponsor of the bill, said the time is right for the bill to be passed by the House of Representatives. The bill has yet to be assigned to a committee.
"I think the bill really protects people in the workplace. When jobs are really hard to find, a lot of people don't really have a choice where they want to go to work," Schupp said.
The entire state could join Chesterfield (and the rest of St. Louis County) in banning cigs in 2011.
State representative Walt Bivins (R- South St. Louis County) is sponsoring a bill that would make all Missouri bars, restaurants and businesses smoke free beginning next year.
The bill has early bi-partisan support with Jill Schupp (D-West St. Louis County), Jeanette Oxford (D-St. Louis) and 17 other state representatives signing on as co-sponsors.
H.B. 1766 would make it illegal to smoke inside pretty much any building in Missouri with the exception of private residences, tobacco shops and 20 percent of hotel rooms in the state.
Should Missouri adopt a statewide smoking ban? Should state legislators decide whether to enact a smoking ban, or should the decision be left to local governments? Should businesses in Boone County be subject to the same regulations as those within Columbia's city limits and at MU?
A prohibition on indoor smoking could become state law if an Oakville legislator has his way.
A South County state representative wants to ban all indoor smoking statewide - with few exceptions.
State Rep. Walt Bivins (R-Oakville) has introduced an indoor smoking ban and is drawing support from both sides of the aisle in Jefferson City. Bivins said he is hopeful the bill will be assigned soon to his Energy and Environment committee for hearings.
“Environment being the operative word here,” Bivins said from Jefferson City. “I haven’t seen anything that the Speaker (of the House Ron Richard, R-Joplin) has assigned anything as of yet. That’s the first step in making progress to getting the bill passed.”
Bivins said the approval of St. Louis County’s ban on indoor smoking made him think that if 65 percent of the St. Louis County voters would approve a ban, why not make a run at the entire state’s voters.
“Lo and behold I was contacted by the American Cancer Society to see if I’d be interested in sponsoring legislation,” Bivins said. “I was willing to give it a shot and see where it would go. They offered some very strict language, which I have filed and it ended up being HB 1766.”
Missouri smokers could face harsh restrictions under proposed legislation.
A House bill proposed by Rep. Walter Bivins, R-St. Louis County, would make it illegal to smoke in enclosed public places like bars and restaurants, and certain outdoor venues -- in and within 15 feet of playgrounds and bus stops, for example. Citizens could still light up in private homes and tobacco retail outlets.
A bipartisan bill in the Missouri House of Representatives proposes a statewide ban on smoking in restaurants and bars, among other enclosed public and employment places, and in some outdoor settings.
The measure, House Bill 1766, is sponsored by Walt Bivins, R-St. Louis, and has 19 co-sponsors, including Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur.
Passage of the bill would make Missouri the 31st state, as well as the District of Columbia, to ban smoking in restaurants, according to the American Lung Association. North Carolina restaurants and bars fell under a statewide smoke ban on Jan. 2, and Michigan restaurant and bars will be covered by a statewide ban as of May 1.
Among other provisions, the proposed Missouri law would also prohibit smoking outdoors within 15 feet of building entrances, operable windows and ventilation systems for spaces where smoking is prohibited.
Read more: http://www.nrn.com/article.aspx?menu_id=1368&id=378964#ixzz0eY1LLIav