Jump to full article: Greensboro (NC) News & Record, 2009-04-01
Author: the way, I am NOT a smoker, never have been
Intro: Along the mythical route known as Tobacco Road, what is happening today -- and may happen beyond -- would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.
Effective today, the federal tobacco excise tax will rise 62 cents per pack to fund children's health care.
At the same time, state lawmakers are seriously considering a smoking ban in all public buildings, bars and restaurants. They could vote on such legislation as soon as today.
Meanwhile, Gov. Bev Perdue wants to increase the cigarette tax in North Carolina by $1 per pack to help fill revenue gaps.
Given tobacco's deep roots and strong traditions in this state, any one of these developments would have been considered heresy not that long ago. But that was then. . . .
Despite all of that evidence, the vote for a state public smoking ban probably will be closer than it ought to be. Rarely has something so bad for us (the habit) been so good to us (the industry).
The bill, whose primary author is Rep. Hugh Holliman, a Lexington Democrat, is not perfect. It trumps cities' rights to pass their own smoking ordinances, unless they are even tougher. It provides few exceptions where smokers only may gather, by choice (tobacco shops, tobacco plants, designated guest rooms in hotels and motels).
It may reach a little further than it should to protect smokers from themselves.
But in the interest of the broader public's well-being, it is the right thing to do.
Jump to full article » |