Well, I won’t get into the semantics of the past weeks, but I will say that I am (thankfully) still employed despite a major bump in the road here at work. So now that things have stabilized a bit, I can get back to business – and I do sincerely apologize to everybody for not being around as of late, but I hope you all understand that this issue must take a back seat to my ability to pay my bills. Unlike our nemesis (i.e. Smoke Free WI et al) who are utterly recession proof and get a paycheck regardless of the economic condition, we must make do with the time and resources we have… But I’m not bitter.
Anyway, I have been reviewing the news articles from the past few weeks and it looks like it’s time to pull back from fighting the local battles and start in on the state battle again. As of now it looks like our fight is two-fold:
- Ensure that Governor Doyle doesn’t abuse his power and put the smoking ban in the budget bill. After all, what in the hell does a smoking ban have anything to do with allocating funds to operating expenses in the government? Let’s make sure this doesn’t happen.
- Fight Risser and his suppoerters tooth and nail to make sure that he doesn’t get his way. I have come to the conclusion that this guy is milidly insane and should not be in any sort of position of authority. He has turned the smoking ban into a personal agenda for him and I suspect he wants to feather his cap with it before he retires. I read somewhere that he won’t get out of office until he sees a smoking ban through. I guess it’s nice to have priorities, but this should not be anywhere on the radar where Wisconsin’s priorities are concerned.
Tim has brought up an interesting idea of a compromise that doesn’t include a ban, and I have been working on beefing it up – but I need help! If anybody wants to get a copy of my work so far, please let me know and I’ll send it. I don’t want to post it publicly yet because I don’t want the wrong people to see what we have in mind… But if anybody thinks they can add to this, edit this, beef it up with more facts, figures, charts etc… Remember, we need this to impress the numb minds of state congress and give our supporters ammo to go up against Risser’s outright ban.
State legislature starts today. Let’s not let this get away from us…
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Ryan! WELCOME BACK – grief, was getting very worried about you, my friend. Awesome to have you back!
I just heard on the radio this morning that the smoking ban is high on the legislator’s agenda, so it looks like the battle has begun. I agree whole heartedly that we can’t let this one get away…
Please send me what you are working on. I still like the compromise I proposed for St. Louis a year ago.
http://keepstlouisfree.blogspot.com/2007/11/st-louis-public-smoking-compromise.html
I hope very soon to have the time to email you, as I’m very interested in seeing the proposal you were working on.
BTW to Ryan, what is Fred Risser’s Wisconsin Senate district like? Do you know if it’s one of those districts in Madison(erm, -stan) that votes overwhelmingly in favor of him each election, and gets little to no senatorial challenges? Also, what is the length of Wisconsin Senate terms? I’m aware it’s 2 years in the Wisconsin Assembly, but not sure what it is in the Senate, and am trying to better educate myself on these things.
It’s very scary to think that for all I know, Sen. Risser’s #1 legislative goal before retiring may be to pass a state ban!
Ryan, welcome back.
I have some ideas also;
Time to start hammering them with emails.
What about contacting the WTL to organize a State wide rally at at least one bar per county on the same day to really send a loud message to the Gov.
In the meantime, I hope he is getting a lesson about “public property” by being banned from all the bars in Wisconsin.
Welcome back, Ryan. I’m also curious to see what you’ve come up with. Our legislature kicks into high gear today here in MN, so I have to get back to work, also.
Good luck–keep Wisconsin free!!
Allan,
I live in Risser’s district. The 26th State Senate District is a solidly Dem district that will elect any Democrat whose name is on the ballot. The GOP usually doesn’t put a candidate up against the octagenarian Risser (who’s was first elected to the Senate 46 years ago–in 1962). Wisconsin Senate terms are four years.
Both ASHRAE and Surgeon General Carmona allow that separately ventilated smoking rooms that staff do not enter protect workers from ETS. You should at least go for that. This smoking lounge study helps prove the case.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/8051240/Global-Environmental-Study-Smoking-Lounge-Evaluations-9162006
Thank you very much for answering my questions about Risser’s district and of the Wisconsin Senate, Tim. It really is so darn hard to believe that he’s held that same office since JFK was president!