Great American Smokeout

Today is the Great American Smokeout. Back in May, our state took a huge step in the direction of public health when our workplaces became smoke free.

Last week, the House Regulatory Reform Committee chose not to hear Representative Geiss' bill to weaken the smokefree air law. This is directly in response to all the messages our advocates sent in a mere 24 hours demanding the law remain unchanged. Thank you to everyone that made calls and helped in this effort.

Now that we know some lawmakers are willing to weaken the smokefree air law, please help us by writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper in support of the smokefree law.

Over the last six months, Michigan workers and patrons have enjoyed going to work without worrying about breathing secondhand smoke. Unfortunately, over that time a small number of people have been fighting to have our elected officials change this great public health law. The media and some legislators are listening to these people and our voice is not being heard.

We've fought too hard for too long for smokefree air. Don't let a few people in our state sabotage our progress. We cannot become complacent nd think our work is done.

Today, in honor of the Great American Smokeout, we are asking you to submit a Letter to the Editor to your local newspaper.

Legislators and our newly elected officials keep close tabs on what is being discussed in their district, so if you have a personal story or just feel trongly about Michigan's smokefree air law, a Letter to the Editor is a great way to express yourself!

Please email matt.phelan@cancer.org if you are interested in submitting a letter and we'll help you get started.

We waited a long time for this healthy change. Now, it's hard to believe we ever allowed smoking in our work places.

It's been a great first six months of the smokefree law.

ACTION ALERT: SMOKE FREE LAW IS UNDER ATTACK!

The Dr. Ron Davis Smoke Free law is UNDER ATTACK! Just six months into a successful implementation period, Representative Doug Geiss (D-Taylor) wants to reopen the issue and WEAKEN the law, potentially exposing thousands of Michigan’s citizens to the dangers of second hand smoke…AGAIN. WE CANNOT STAND FOR THIS!

Representative Geiss’s bill (HB 5803) proposes that we go back to the farce that was the non-smoking section by introducing "Legal Smoking
Rooms." Geiss claims that ventilation systems will take care of the noxious chemicals that leach through everything in their path. Study after study has shown that ventilation systems do not work and are incapable of removing the harm secondhand smoke poses.

The bill also exempts "licensed clubs" from the smoke free law. This exemption could potentially give any bar or restaurant the ability to file an affidavit with the state calling itself a membership club and thereby allowing smoking. No need to read between the lines here, folks, Representative Geiss wants Michigan’s servers to wade through the thick clouds of smoke once again.

The Regulatory Reform Committee will be taking up this bill today, November 10 at NOON in the House Office Building Room 326. If you’re in the Lansing area, please come and show your support for the Smoke Free Law. If you cannot make it to the hearing, CALL, FAX, AND EMAIL the members of the committee and tell them how much you LOVE smoke free Michigan and that you OPPOSE any changes to weaken the law:

Representative Bert Johnson *Chair
Phone: (517) 373-0144
Fax: (517) 373-8929
Email: bertjohnson@house.mi.gov

Harold Haugh *Vice-Chair
Phone: (517) 373-0854
Fax: (517) 373-5911
Email: HaroldHaugh@house.mi.gov

Representative Pam Byrnes
Phone: (517) 373-0828
Fax: (517) 373-5783
Email: pambyrnes@house.mi.gov

Representative Tim Melton
Phone: (517) 373-0475
Fax: (517) 373-5061
Email: timmelton@house.mi.gov

Representative Bettie Cook Scott
Phone: (517) 373-1776
Fax: (517) 373-8502
Email: bettiecookscott@house.mi.gov

Representative Woodrow Stanley
Phone: (517) 373-8808
Fax: (517) 373-5997
Email: WoodrowStanley@house.mi.gov

Representative Jon M. Switalski
Phone: (517) 373-1772
Fax: (517) 373-5906
Email: JonSwitalski@house.mi.gov

Representative Tory Rocca
Phone: (517) 373-7768
Email: ToryRocca@house.mi.gov

Representative Hugh Crawford
Phone: (517) 373-0827
Email: HughCrawford@house.mi.gov

Representative Rick Jones
Phone: (517) 373-0853
Email: RickJones@house.mi.gov

Representative Jim Stamas
Phone: (517) 373-1791
Email: JimStamas@house.mi.gov

Week 4: The Writing is on the Wall

ACT NOW! OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR BREATH

The "Writing is on the Wall" for our state legislators. It's time for Michigan to be smokefree!

This week, we're using Facebook to get our message across. Did you know many Michigan legislators have their own Facebook pages?

We need you to take action by posting a positive message on your lawmaker's wall or sending it directly to them via private message. When communicating with your lawmaker please be respectful but most importantly, let them know you want a comprehensive smokefree bill passed today! http://www.facebook.com/

Not a Facebook user? You can still take action by calling your legislators!

Tobacco Free Michigan has its own Facebook page. Become a "fan" here: www.facebook.com/tobaccofreemi

Here is what you can do in addition to posting on your legislator's page:

• Make sure all of your Facebook friends know about our page and encourage them to become a fan.



• Find your legislator and get "connected" with him or her today. If you don't know who your legislator is, go here: http://www.house.mi.gov/find_a_rep.asp or here: http://www.senate.mi.gov/



• Share our Facebook messages and alerts with your friends and post them in your news feed



• Visit the Campaign for Smokefree Air page, save the logo, and make it your profile picture for the week

As always, we want to hear from you. Once you've taken action, leave a comment on the Act Now! blog at http://campaignforsmokefreeair.wordpress.com/

WEEK 3: ACT NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR BREATH

It’s pretty scary…

In the year since our lawmakers failed to pass a comprehensive smokefree bill, another 16,000 of our Michigan kids became regular, daily smokers. Don’t let our lawmakers fall for tobacco industry “tricks.” The Legislature can give our kids a real “treat” this year by passing a comprehensive smokefree bill.

IT’S TIME TO ACT NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR BREATH!

This week, we want you to CALL your Senators and Representatives and tell them you want a comprehensive smokefree law NOW!

Teens who work in smokefree worksites are 25% less likely to smoke than those who work in places without smoking restrictions.

We want to hear from you. Once you've taken action visit our "Act Now or Forever Hold Your Breath" Campaign blog and leave a comment telling us what you've done!

Let’s have our kids collecting candy instead of cancer this year…

ACTION ALERT: ACT NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR BREATH

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Take a look at this picture:

Something is not right. Michigan is one of the “unlucky 13” states that still does not protect its residents from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Please email your legislators TODAY and tell them it’s time to pass a comprehensive smokefree bill.

Despite the ongoing budget battle, last week the Senate took action to pass the legislation allowing you to hang items from your review mirror. The vote prompted Sen. Tupac Hunter, D-Detroit, to lament that the Senate spent time on "the fuzzy dice bill" when it could have devoted time to more substantial issues -- such as a comprehensive smokefree workplace law. We could not agree more!

Take Action Now or Forever Hold Your Breath!

Email your elected officials and tell them to stop "rolling the dice" with workers' health. Ask that they make the smokefree legislation the top priority instead of wasting time on frivolous legislation like "the fuzzy dice bill". We want to leave the other “dirty dozen” behind and pass a comprehensive smokefree bill today.

We want to hear from you. Once you’ve taken action visit our blog at http://campaignforsmokefreeair.wordpress.com/aignforsmokefreeair.wordpress.com/

Which issue do you think is more important to Michigan's residents?

Big Win For Local Smoke Free Regulations

Yesterday, the Michigan Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision that upheld the authority of local health departments to and a county board of commissioners to approve, regulations that control smoking in the workplace. The full text of the decsion in the case, McNeil v. Charlevoix Co., can be found here.

All seven justices agreed that local health departments' can adopt stricter smoking regulations than the state in order to safeguard public health. It's important to note, however, that these regulations will not apply to restaurants and bars. Because of state preemption laws, only the Legislature can ban smoking in bars and restaurants.

The Court did split 4-3 on a second issue regarding at will employment. The majority upheld workers' rights to sue their employer if they're fired for asserting the right to a smoke free environment under the regulation.

Although this decision is encouraging, it only goes so far. As mentioned above, only the Legislature can ban smoking in restaurants and bars. Sadly that means that although the State's highest court asserted that smoke free workplaces regulations are a public health concern, many of Michigan's workers remain unprotected from the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Call Speaker of the House Dillon and tell him you want to see a vote on a comprehensive smoke free bill that will protect ALL of Michigan's workers (including those who work in bars, restaurants, AND casinos).

1-888-REP-DILLON (737-3455)

Senate Majority Leader Bishop lets Michigan down - needlessly delays smoking bill

Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) referred the smoke free workplaces bill to committee. Unfortunately, the Senator chose the Government Operations & Reform Committee, a.k.a. “Where Bills Go to Die.”

Last week there was hope on the smoking ban. The House of Representatives had passed HB 4377 with 73 votes. Although Senator Bishop had previously stated that he wouldn’t even glance at a bill with exemptions (HB 4377 exempts casinos and cigar bars), the House vote seemed to change his tone slightly and Bishop hinted that he would “take the temperature” of the room. If people supported the bill he’d take up the issue.

I don’t know what room Bishop is in, but clearly that room is NOT in Michigan. Bishop has since said that he’s in no rush to even consider the bill. So, despite the fact that 2/3 of Michiganders want smoke free air, and that we’re one of only 13 states without a smoke free law of any kind, and that it has been proven time and time and time again that businesses are NOT harmed by smoke free legislation, Bishop fully intends to let this issue die.

Don’t let him get away with these shenanigans. There are some who have said that this is just the way things are done in Lansing. That certain legislators’ lack of action and political gameplaying are par for the course, should be expected, and that nothing can be done...

Baloney. Senators Ray Basham (D-Taylor) and Tupac Hunter (D-Detroit) have been clamoring for a smoke free bill because they "get it" and have been listening to what their constituents want. Senator Tom George (R-Kalamazoo), a doctor who understands just how deadly secondhand smoke is, pushed Bishop to take up the bill during the last session. There are Senators and Representatives on both sides of the aisle who are behind this issue. The problem isn’t the legislators, it's the “leadership” in the legislature.

Bishop has said he won’t be pressured by any groups to move the smoke free bill. That despite public support, he has no intention to bring it to the floor. Since when is it ok for elected officials to so blatantly shirk their jobs? Who gave Bishop the green light to discount the majority of Michiganders in favor of a small group of folks who make up a mere fraction of the state’s population?

Dillon didn’t move on the bill until he was told to, repeatedly, by thousands of Michiganders who shut down his lines calling for a hearing. It was the grassroots that helped get the smoke free air issue heard, the grassroots who have moved it along, and the grassroots who CAN put this issue to bed.

Now it’s time to send Senator Bishop the same message: “Take action on the smoke free bill NOW, not later, not when you feel like it, NOW.”

There is no good reason why this bill should be delayed any further. Call Senator Mike Bishop and tell your friends, neighbors, family and anyone else you run into to call him, too.

Here is Bishop’s contact info:
Phone: 877-924-7467 or 517-373-2417
Email: senmbishop@senate.michigan.gov
Address: 883 Great Oaks Blvd.; Rochester, MI 48307

Don’t let Dillon off the hook, either. He’s partially to blame for this mess after barring votes on clean versions of the bill which would have forced Bishop’s hand. Speaker Dillon may have moved the bill, but his job is far from done, he may be able to persuade Bishop to take another look at this issue.

Call Dillon and tell him you don’t want this bill to die.
Phone: 888-737-3455 or 517-373-0857
Address: 26284 Graham Rd.; Redford Township, MI 48239
Email: andydillon@house.mi.gov

Good But Not Good Enough

On Tuesday, May 26, the House passed HB 4377 by a vote of 73-31. The bill makes workplaces smoke free with exemptions for casino gaming floors, cigar bars and tobacco specialty shops. An amendment requiring that a cigar bar or tobacco shop be in existence by December 31, 2009; makes all casinos smoke free after all lower peninsula tribal casinos go smoke free; and gives the Michigan Gaming Commission the power to define the term “gaming floor” was substituted for the bill.

Those of you who have followed this saga will no doubt see the striking similarities to last year’s smoke free debate. Despite pressure from thousands of constituents across the state, the House leadership still did not see the wisdom in supporting a full ban. According to the subscription only MIRS news, Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford, and Representative Bert Johnson, D-Highland Park, “engineered” the vote; “basically by getting the 69-member House Democratic Caucus to go along.”

Dillon maneuvered the floor so that the caucus-preferred version of HB 4377, complete with exemptions, was the one that passed. All amendments offered on the floor, with the exception of the amendment mentioned above, were quick-gaveled down without any roll call votes.

Rep. Joan Bauer, D-Lansing, and Rep. Paul Scott, R-Grand Blanc, each offered their own amendments to change HB 4377 to a comprehensive bill. Unfortunately, as with the other amendments, Rep. Shanelle Jackson, D-Detroit, followed the leadership’s directives and gaveled voice votes a split second after Bauer and Scott spoke.

In a press release from the Campaign for Smokefree Air (a group which TFM is affiliated with), spokesperson Judy Stewart expressed her disappointment. “This is a weak attempt to provide smokefree protection to Michigan workers. Though we’re happy that the House has moved legislation, we still feel that all workers deserve to breathe smokefree air. We’re disappointed that amendments to make the legislation stronger were not considered.”

The bill is set to advance to the Senate next Tuesday, June 2. The Republican-controlled Senate has previously said that they will support nothing less than a full ban. This year, however, there is word circulating that Senate Majority Leader, Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, has been getting a lot of pressure from smoke free proponents. Bishop’s spokesperson has said that the majority leader won't stand in the way of what the caucus wants to do in regard to passing a bill with exemptions.

“We have faith that in the end Michigan lawmakers will do the right thing and protect the health of all Michigan workers,” said Stewart. “No one should have to choose between their health and a paycheck.”

Thank you again for all of your calls and emails to your Representatives and to the Speaker of the House. Although we are disappointed to see a bill with exemptions and will continue to advocate for a comprehensive bill, we are happy to see that some progress has been made toward smoke free air in Michigan. We will be sending out and posting an action alert within the next week with the next steps in this campaign.

This is testimony given by a Detroit casino worker about the secondhand smoke and hazardous health conditions in their place of employment. Their identity had to be hidden due to the possibility of retaliation from their employer for speaking out.

Video may not work...if not, check out Michigan Campaign For Smokefree Air's Facebook Page http://is.gd/oDFM