Statewide smoking ban to be pushed this week

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By Mike Riopell | Wednesday, January 10, 2007 1:37 AM CST | () comments

SPRINGFIELD — As communities throughout Illinois debate whether to ban indoor smoking, some groups want to completely clear the air by snuffing cigarettes throughout the state.

The Illinois Lung Association and others plan to launch on Thursday its push to ban smoking in public places.

Less than two years ago, a longtime effort by anti-smoking advocates succeeded in giving Illinois cities and towns a choice to kick smokers out of public places, including bars and restaurants.

But in pushing for a statewide ban, those same advocates could snuff out local control.

Some lawmakers who voted for local control in 2005 say they will not take the next step this year. Previously, state law prohibited all but a handful of Illinois communities from making decisions about smoking.

“I’m not willing to take local control away at the state level,” said Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville, who voted for local control.

Lung Association spokeswoman Kathy Drea confirmed that plans to seek a statewide ban are set to be announced Thursday, but she would not release details Tuesday. Steve Reidl, executive director of the Illinois Licensed Beverage Association, said his organization is gearing up to oppose the plan.

Health groups cite the harm secondhand smoke can cause to workplace patrons and employees as key reasons for smokers to butt out of public places. Smoke is known to cause lung cancer and other diseases.

About 20 municipalities across the state have enacted smoking bans with varying degrees of strictness since Illinois lawmakers gave them the option. Others have avoided the smoking debate or decided against a ban.

“We still have a lot of communities debating this issue,” said Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, who voted for local control. “Let’s give it time to work.”

Burzynski says the anti-smoking crowd should focus its efforts on individual communities because they have the power to ban it.

While a statewide smoking ban will get its first public push of the year soon, that announcement could be the beginning of a long effort.

It took anti-smoking advocates years to talk lawmakers into authorizing local control for bans, and it could take some waiting before momentum swings their way again.

“That could be what their long-term goal is, but that’s a little overreaching at this point,” Burzynski said.

In the meantime, a plan to let Illinois counties tax cigarettes up to $2 per pack was not approved by lawmakers on Tuesday.

Mike Riopell can be contacted at (217) 789-0865 or mike.riopell@lee.net.