DETROIT—Michigan legislators held a caucus on Thursday in a rush to pass a state-wide no-smoking law that would include banning smoking in all workplaces as well as the states' growing number of gambling casinos.
The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is once again strongly encouraging the Michigan State Legislature to pass a law protecting people from second-hand smoke in public places including restaurants and bars. While attempting to reach a compromise, the state Legislature recently pondered the idea of allowing businesses to avoid the ban by buying a special permit.
However, in a statement supporting a more comprehensive law, MDCH director Janet Olszewski said, "Compromise may be needed, but the state legislature must protect its citizens from second-hand smoke. Michigan needs a strong, firm, concrete law that outright bans smoking in public places. Allowing businesses to buy their way out of the law would be unacceptable and unfair to Michigan residents."
According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, "Second-hand smoke is the third leading preventable cause of death and when smoking occurs in the workplace, employees find they are exposed to cancer causing substances all day long. Research has shown that tobacco smoke has more than 4,000 chemicals of which 60 are known carcinogens. Contrary to popular belief, separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposures to second-hand smoke."
According to Sen. Olshove's office, Michigan's Senate has already approved the ban, but the hang-up is in the House where the casinos have lobbied hard to allow smoking in their establishments. This has caused the discussion to be moved to a Conference Committee, where the casinos are seeking to push for an exemption.
If the law is not passed before the break for the holidays, then the process with the House will be forced to start all over again, as term-limited lawmakers leave office and the newly elected representatives get to look at it in January. The Michigan Department of Community Health is asking state legislators to put aside political gamesmanship and do what is appropriate for Michigan residents.
