Articles

Untimely Death For Smoking Ban

Opinion
April 13, 2004

Most critical issues in the Legislature failed this year because of a lack of consensus. The notable exception was the statewide smoking ban, which met its demise because there seemingly was consensus.

The bill to ban smoking in indoor public areas passed the state Senate twice. It survived a near-death experience to wend its way back to the House, where its chief obstacle to passage turned out to be Speaker Terry Coleman (D-Eastman).

Coleman did not allow the Smokefree Air Act on the floor for a vote on the final day of the session last week. He ignored pleas and petitions from health advocates and legislators, who were confident that the ban would win enough votes to succeed if it reached the floor.

It's baffling why Coleman would block a bill that could not only save lives but also millions of dollars in health costs that Georgia now spends on smoking-related illnesses and lost productivity. It may have been a test of wills with the Senate, which is where the ban originated and where it enjoyed its greatest support. Or it may have been a favor to House Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Alan Powell (D-Hartwell), who opposed the measure and tried to snuff it out in his committee.

Either way, the real losers are the residents of Georgia.

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