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Tobacco bills aim to tax and ban smoking
by Jason N. Reed | News Reporter |
Tobacco smoke may soon be banned from bars in Oregon, but the revenue from cigarettes could possibly provide more than 100,000 uninsured children with needed health insurance. To address both of these issues, the Oregon Legislature is working on two bills that would address both of these issues.
A smoking ban in all public spaces and workplaces could become a reality for Oregonians after the Senate passed Senate Bill 571 last month.
Currently, only three cities in Oregon have smoking bans: Eugene, Corvallis and Philomath.
The American Lung Association states that secondhand smoke contains more than 200 poisons - including more than 43 chemicals that are known to cause cancer - and causes an estimated 800 deaths a year in Oregon.
The bill has recently been amended so that cigar bars may sell alcohol so long as they ban smoking all other tobacco products and have a maximum seating capacity of 40 persons, among other stipulations.
Race courses may also allow smoking unless prohibited by the licensed meet operator.
The bill is in committee, and it is expected to head to the House for vote sometime this week.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski has been trying to create a Healthy Kids Plan that will provide health insurance for nearly 120,000 uninsured kids in Oregon.
With rising health care costs, many of Oregon's youth are denied access to the basic benefits of preventative health care and early treatment for injuries and disease.
To protect the health of Oregon's children, the Governor and legislature have proposed a cigarette tax, House Bill 2967, to fund the program.
"My Healthy Kids Plan ensures that all children receive health care, including dental and mental health benefits, and that all working families can provide health care for their children," the Governor said in a press release. "Oregon has 117,000 children who will get help under this plan - more than all the children now enrolled in the school districts of Portland, Eugene, Coos Bay, Medford, Klamath Falls, Bend and Pendleton combined."
A smoking ban in all public spaces and workplaces could become a reality for Oregonians after the Senate passed Senate Bill 571 last month.
Currently, only three cities in Oregon have smoking bans: Eugene, Corvallis and Philomath.
The American Lung Association states that secondhand smoke contains more than 200 poisons - including more than 43 chemicals that are known to cause cancer - and causes an estimated 800 deaths a year in Oregon.
The bill has recently been amended so that cigar bars may sell alcohol so long as they ban smoking all other tobacco products and have a maximum seating capacity of 40 persons, among other stipulations.
Race courses may also allow smoking unless prohibited by the licensed meet operator.
The bill is in committee, and it is expected to head to the House for vote sometime this week.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski has been trying to create a Healthy Kids Plan that will provide health insurance for nearly 120,000 uninsured kids in Oregon.
With rising health care costs, many of Oregon's youth are denied access to the basic benefits of preventative health care and early treatment for injuries and disease.
To protect the health of Oregon's children, the Governor and legislature have proposed a cigarette tax, House Bill 2967, to fund the program.
"My Healthy Kids Plan ensures that all children receive health care, including dental and mental health benefits, and that all working families can provide health care for their children," the Governor said in a press release. "Oregon has 117,000 children who will get help under this plan - more than all the children now enrolled in the school districts of Portland, Eugene, Coos Bay, Medford, Klamath Falls, Bend and Pendleton combined."
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Glenn Campbell
posted 6/12/07 @ 2:26 AM PST
"We're the adults in the world," the Governor said in his press release. "It is our responsibility to look out for the health and well being of our children"
I guess that responsibility only applies to adults who smoke. (Continued…)
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