Smoke Free Texas

June 28, 2011

The following are facts on the issue and a statement by Claudia Rodas, co-chair of the Smoke-Free Texas Coalition:

“We appreciate the support of our state lawmakers from both political parties for the smoke-free legislation throughout the 82nd Regular and First Called Special Session. We are especially thankful to the bill sponsors, Rep. Myra Crownover (R-Denton) and Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) and other lawmakers who worked tirelessly to build support and momentum for this legislation over the past several months. 

“We are disappointed that certain lawmakers did not recognize the urgent need to pass smoke-free legislation in the special session. These lawmakers chose to disregard the widespread support for this legislation at the expense of public health and economic benefits. Myths, big tobacco, and lack of legislative leadership contributed to the death of a conservative piece of legislation that would save millions of taxpayer dollars and most importantly the lives of countless Texans.

“All Texans have a right to breathe clean indoor air in the workplace. No business has a constitutional right to harm their employees or customers. Our coalition built one of the largest issue-based grassroots coalitions in Texas and we will work to create an even larger and stronger army of supporters to ensure the passage of a statewide smoke-free workplace law in 2013.

“Put simply, the coalition and our supporters are not going away nor is this issue. We will not give up until a smoke-free workplace law is passed in Texas.” 

KEY FACTS:

? Data clearly shows a comprehensive smoke-free indoor workplace law in Texas would save thousands of lives and $31 million in taxpayer dollars for the 2012-2013 biennium by eliminating the Medicaid costs that result from exposure to secondhand smoke in indoor workplaces.

? Lawmakers in 29 other states have already acknowledged the positive health and economic impacts that result from statewide smoke-free laws by passing this important legislation.

? Because of the lack of action on this legislation in 2011, millions of Texans will have no other choice than to continue to remain exposed to the dangers of secondhand smoke in their workplace. Unfortunately, Texans will continue to foot the bill for the harm done to employees’ and customers’ health in these smoke-filled workplaces across the state.

? Tens of thousands of Texans support the coalition’s effort to pass a statewide smoke-free workplace law, including more than 29,000 Facebook supporters, more than 2,200 Twitter followers and more than 27,000 Texans in our grassroots database, as well as numerous organizations, business groups, musicians, faith leaders, and everyday Texans from across the political spectrum.

? Throughout the interim, the coalition will work relentlessly to ensure our state lawmakers take a hard look at the strong support this legislation enjoys from their constituents, the inherent benefits such a law would provide to Texans and the urgent need to pass this common-sense legislation in 2013.   


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Smoke-Free Texas is a broad coalition of organizations who believe all Texas employees have the right to breathe clean indoor air.  Because science tells us that secondhand smoke kills, we support a statewide law to protect Texans from the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace.  Our members include the American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, LIVESTRONG and the Texas Parent Teacher Association.  Visit our website for more information at www.smokefreetexas.org. Visit us on Facebook and Twitter at www.Facebook.com/SmokeFreeTexas and www.Twitter.com/SmokeFreeTexas.