Smoke Free Texas

May 28, 2011

“We appreciate the persistent efforts of legislators from both parties who have remained dedicated to passing smoke-free workplace legislation, especially the bill sponsors and long-time champions, Rep. Myra Crownover (R-Denton) and Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston).  Today is the first day of our 2013 Legislative Campaign: We are unrelenting in our determination to pass a comprehensive smoke-free indoor workplace law to protect employees and all Texans from harm.

 

“We are deeply dismayed by the decision of the majority of the Senate conferees to remove Rep. Crownover’s amendment from Senate Bill 1811 that would save thousands of lives and millions of dollars by eliminating smoking inside bars and restaurants across the state.  

 

“The decision by the Senate conferees to strip this amendment is inconsistent with the significant support for this legislation from lawmakers and Texans across all partisan groups and all philosophical persuasions from conservative Republicans and Tea Party supporters to Democrats.  The senators are refusing to acknowledge the will of Texans who will not rest until a smoke-free indoor workplace law is passed in Texas.  

 

“At more than 27,000 ‘Likes’ Smoke-Free Texas has more Facebook supporters than virtually any other organization in Texas.  We have more than 1850 Twitter followers and more than 27,000 Texans in our grassroots database. Put simply, we built one of the largest and broadest grassroots movements ever seen in Texas. We will work to exponentially grow our support in the next election and legislative session.

 

“The action of these lawmakers blatantly ignores the millions in savings of taxpayer dollars and numerous other benefits this amendment would provide to Texans and the state’s economy. Unfortunately, taxpayers will continue to foot the hefty bill for the harm done to employees’ and customers’ health in these smoke-filled workplaces.  Once again big-tobacco has prevailed to the detriment of all Texans.

 

“It is particularly disheartening when a medical doctor and a state senator lead the effort to remove the protections citing constitutional grounds while knowing full-well the harmful effects of second hand smoke.  Businesses do not have a constitutional right to harm their employees and customers.”