Stricter Smoking Laws to Vote of the People

[Townsend]

Governor Will Put Stricter Smoking Laws to Vote of the People

http://kwgs.com/post/governor-will-put-stricter-smoking-laws-vote-people

The Governor responds to the voting down of a change to tobacco laws she proposed in her State of the State address.

Details have not been finalized yet about an initiative petitions regarding proposals aimed at reducing second hand smoke risks.

Governor Fallin announced plans for the petition after the failure in the Senate General Government committee yesterday of a measure to restore control over tobacco regulations to local governments.

"We're bypassing the legislature, which has not acted decisively to protect the people of this state," said Terry Cline, Commissioner of the Oklahoma State Department of Health. "We will put this question as a vote to the people."

Whether the proposed ballot initiative will look like the failed Senate bill, or would instead take the form of a stricter statewide ban, remains to be seen.

Cline says the coming weeks will see work to finalize those details. The goal is to have the question on the ballot in 2014.

In the meantime, the governor's office has launched a website—www.DontSmokeOnMe.com—where Oklahomans can sign up to receive more information about the petition.

[guido911]

I favor this in principle.

[carltonplace]

Voters will approve it

[guido911]

We are talking about T's avatar; correct?

[Townsend]

State Health Department says Smoking Rate Declining

http://kwgs.com/post/state-health-department-says-smoking-rate-declining

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The state Department of Health says the number of Oklahomans who smoke has dropped to an historic low for the state.

The agency says 23.3 percent of Oklahomans smoked in 2012, down from 26.1 percent in 2011. Oklahoma now ranks 39th among all states for adult smoking, a significant improvement from the previous ranking of 47th.

Health officials say there were an estimated 75,000 fewer adult smokers in 2012 than 2011. The percentage of Oklahomans who have never smoked increased from 49.2 percent in 2011 to 52.4 percent in 2012, or an increase of about 100,000 people. And the percentage of Oklahomans who smoke every day decreased from 19.9 percent in 2011 to 17 percent in 2012.

The Health Department says smoking is Oklahoma's leading preventable cause of death.

That seems like a Hell of a drop in one year.  I'm leaning toward shenanigans on this one.

[Conan71]

State Health Department says Smoking Rate Declining

http://kwgs.com/post/state-health-department-says-smoking-rate-declining

That seems like a Hell of a drop in one year.  I'm leaning toward shenanigans on this one.

How many lung cancer and heart disease deaths over that period? That's one way to get smokers off the rolls.   Amongst my kids and their friends, I'm not aware of any who have taken up smoking.  Much different than when you and I were growing up for sure.

[Hoss]

How many lung cancer and heart disease deaths over that period? That's one way to get smokers off the rolls.   Amongst my kids and their friends, I'm not aware of any who have taken up smoking.  Much different than when you and I were growing up for sure.

six-dollar-a-pack habit doesn't make things easier start smoking, also.

[Conan71]

six-dollar-a-pack habit doesn't make things easier start smoking, also.

It would have been a good disincentive for me.  I think when I started cigs were still well under a buck.

[TheArtist]

  Danged liberal governor telling people what to do, what to purchase, how to live their lives.  Government intrusion at it's finest. "Protect the people of this state", what is that I hear, "Nanny State" we aren't responsible adults?  How insulting!  Slippery slope, she will be hugging trees and trying to protect our health by decreasing other forms of "air pollution" coming from smoke stacks to tailpipes, or regulating sugar and soft drinks (which probably kills more people than cigarettes) but thank goodness the Republicans will fight against all this government intrusion in the name of "Protecting the people" cause we know that all those things the Liberals say about regulating this or banning that in the name of "Protecting the people" is complete hogwash.  

Sarcasm off.  

[Hoss]

It would have been a good disincentive for me.  I think when I started cigs were still well under a buck.

They were right at a dollar for me.  I quit in early 2007, when they were creeping up on 3 dollars.  Glad I quit.

[DolfanBob]

It would have been a good disincentive for me.  I think when I started cigs were still well under a buck.

OK I'm old. 35 cents when I was in the 7th grade. Of course my best friend helped me get started. I quit in 1985 when they skyrocketed to 85 cents.

Also. I even smoked Viceroy so people wouldn't bum from me. That's how cheap I am.

[sauerkraut]

At the company I worked for in the 1980's a guy who was smoker always said he'd quit smoking when cigs reached $1.00 a pack. He didn't.

[sauerkraut]

Smoking is a very expensive past time. I don't smoke and I don't drink, but I do feel if people want to smoke they should have that right in a free country- as long as they don't smoke by me. I'm also against seatbelt laws and helmet laws let the people decide to use them or not. I kinda like to think that's what freedom is all about. From what I understand smoking is very addictive and it's tuff to quit, some people can quit could turkey but most can't. Since I never smoked I can't say first hand I know how tuff it is to quit because I can't. Being a runner I could not smoke if I wanted too I need all the lung capacity I can get, but everyone should have the freedom to make their own choices, not have gov't laws cram things down. Mary Fallin did good by allowing the people to vote!