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House panel approves ban on indoor smoking for Iowa

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By The Associated Press | Tuesday, February 5, 2008 8:54 PM CST | () comments

DES MOINES, Iowa — A key House panel approved a measure Tuesday that would ban indoor smoking in businesses and public places.

   Supporters of the bill, which would not affect casinos and certain other groups, said a ban would protect thousands of Iowans from second-hand smoke.

   ``This is about the health and safety of workers,'' said Rep. Phil Wise, D-Keokuk. ``Protecting people's health is a legitimate function of government.''

   Critics said the measure would take away the freedom of small business owners to decide how they run their business, and it puts them in an awkward position to stop their friends and neighbors from smoking.

   ``That is just one more way government is chipping away at our freedom,'' said Rep. Thomas Sands, R-Columbus Junction.

   The House Commerce Committee approved the statewide ban 16-6, sending it the full House for debate as lawmakers seek ways to restrict public smoking.

   Gov. Chet Culver has asked the Legislature for a bill allowing local governments to enact their own smoking restrictions, and that measure is also working its way through the Legislature. Culver has said he would sign the measure.

   Some anti-smoking lawmakers argued that the local-option proposal doesn't got far enough, and are pushing Iowa to join the growing number of states such as Illinois and Minnesota where indoor smoking has been banned.

   Rep. Tyler Olson, D-Cedar Rapids, said there's growing scientific evidence about the harmful effects of breathing second-hand smoke, with studies showing 53,000 deaths a year caused by second-hand smoke.

   ``There is no level of exposure that is risk-free,'' he said.

   He noted that food-service workers are 50 percent more likely to get lung cancer than other workers, largely because many are forced to work in smoking settings. There is some self-interest, Olson said, since the state spends about $300 million a year in the Medicaid program treating smoking-related illnesses.

   The smoking ban would be enforced on a complaint basis by the Iowa Department of Public Health and an initial violation would bring a $100 fine.

   ``Enforcement has not been a big issue'' in other states, Olson said. The measure excludes casinos, and private veteran organizations such as the Veteran of Foreign Wars, when their facilities are open only to members.

   Olson argued that the growing opposition to smoking has left many businesses discovering that going smoke-free increases their business.