Wisconsin finally looks ready to learn something from its neighbor to the west when it comes to a statewide smoke free law.
When our newly re-elected Legislature begins in January, health professionals from around our state will be imploring it to immediately take up and pass the Breathe Free Wisconsin Act. Governor Jim Doyle supports it - and so do voters.
But for those worried about whether this is a good idea, look west. It's now been just over a year since Minnesota ended all workplace smoking including inside bars and restaurants - and Minnesotans are happier and healthier because of it.
According to a poll released in October, a full 77 percent of Minnesotans from across the state say they support the "Freedom to Breathe" Law - that's slightly more than the support Minnesota shows its Vikings football team. Imagine a law that, once enacted, is more popular than the Packers.
What's more, a University of Minnesota study found an 83 percent decrease in nonsmoking bar and restaurant workers' exposure to nicotine and an 85 percent decrease in their exposure to cancer-causing chemicals in secondhand smoke since the law took effect. These laws truly work to improve health. There is no dispute about this.
It is time.
People in Wisconsin are tired of seeing the smoke-free bill pushed around like a political pawn; their public health is not a game and they're calling for change. They elected candidates in the last election who not only support protecting all workers' health, but promise to do so within the first 100 days of the session. Let's get it done.
Every person in Wisconsin deserves the right to breathe smoke-free air at work. Secondhand smoke causes cancer, heart disease, emphysema and, according to the Wisconsin Department of Family Services, 800 deaths in this state each year. Yet Wisconsin lawmakers continue to try to dodge and distract.
It is time.
Communities already know this. In the past nine months, five cities and all of Dane County have passed comprehensive smoke-free ordinances, and several more communities are looking to end this public health threat.
It's working in Minnesota - and cancer doesn't stop at the city or state line, heart disease doesn't differentiate by zip code, and people in Wisconsin can no longer tolerate another year of inaction.
We have a new Legislature and a new beginning. Now is Wisconsin's chance to move forward and send leaders to Madison who will stand up to Big Tobacco and special interests, who will protect public health and who will ensure Wisconsin can soon celebrate its own smoke-free anniversary just like Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and 24 other smoke-free states. It's time Wisconsin finally stops counting lives lost to secondhand smoke and starts counting lives saved!
- Rob Guilbert is president of Assurant Health Foundation, vice president of Assurant Health Corporate Communications and a board member of SmokeFree Wisconsin.
When our newly re-elected Legislature begins in January, health professionals from around our state will be imploring it to immediately take up and pass the Breathe Free Wisconsin Act. Governor Jim Doyle supports it - and so do voters.
But for those worried about whether this is a good idea, look west. It's now been just over a year since Minnesota ended all workplace smoking including inside bars and restaurants - and Minnesotans are happier and healthier because of it.
According to a poll released in October, a full 77 percent of Minnesotans from across the state say they support the "Freedom to Breathe" Law - that's slightly more than the support Minnesota shows its Vikings football team. Imagine a law that, once enacted, is more popular than the Packers.
What's more, a University of Minnesota study found an 83 percent decrease in nonsmoking bar and restaurant workers' exposure to nicotine and an 85 percent decrease in their exposure to cancer-causing chemicals in secondhand smoke since the law took effect. These laws truly work to improve health. There is no dispute about this.
It is time.
People in Wisconsin are tired of seeing the smoke-free bill pushed around like a political pawn; their public health is not a game and they're calling for change. They elected candidates in the last election who not only support protecting all workers' health, but promise to do so within the first 100 days of the session. Let's get it done.
Every person in Wisconsin deserves the right to breathe smoke-free air at work. Secondhand smoke causes cancer, heart disease, emphysema and, according to the Wisconsin Department of Family Services, 800 deaths in this state each year. Yet Wisconsin lawmakers continue to try to dodge and distract.
It is time.
Communities already know this. In the past nine months, five cities and all of Dane County have passed comprehensive smoke-free ordinances, and several more communities are looking to end this public health threat.
It's working in Minnesota - and cancer doesn't stop at the city or state line, heart disease doesn't differentiate by zip code, and people in Wisconsin can no longer tolerate another year of inaction.
We have a new Legislature and a new beginning. Now is Wisconsin's chance to move forward and send leaders to Madison who will stand up to Big Tobacco and special interests, who will protect public health and who will ensure Wisconsin can soon celebrate its own smoke-free anniversary just like Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and 24 other smoke-free states. It's time Wisconsin finally stops counting lives lost to secondhand smoke and starts counting lives saved!
- Rob Guilbert is president of Assurant Health Foundation, vice president of Assurant Health Corporate Communications and a board member of SmokeFree Wisconsin.
