The Smoke-Free Movement

Yesterday we informed you about a dangerous amendment that would exclude all casinos within 10 miles of the border from the Smoke-Free Illinois Act. We have recently learned though that action on SB 890 was postponed in the Senate Executive Committee today. HOWEVER, a new amendment has been filed which is narrower (applies only to riverboat casinos, only effective within 5 miles of the border), that we still strongly oppose.

We have been informed that this new amendment will be assigned to the Senate Executive Committee later today (Thursday, May 24)-- and a hearing will take place at the next meeting of the committee, which will likely be in the next 24 hours.

There is also speculation of more amendments to come.

You can help us prevent this measure from endangering our smoke-free act by continuing to call the following legislators:

Ira Silverstien -- (217) 782-5500
Debbie Halvorsen -- (217) 782-7419
Dale Righter -- (217) 782-6674
James Clayborne -- (217) 782-5399
James DeLeo -- (217) 782-1035
Rickey Hendon -- (217) 782-6252
Louis Viverito -- (217) 782-0054
Iris Martinez -- (217) 782-8191
Emil Jones -- (217) 782-2728
Frank Watson -- (217) 782-5755
J. Bradley Burzynski -- (217) 782-1977
Christine Radogno -- (217) 782-9407
Todd Sieben -- (217) 782-0180

Thank you to all of you who called yesterday!!! Please keep the calling coming! We cannot let this important piece of legislation be compromised!

Posted by Smoke-Free Illinois at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments   

Earlier today, a hostile amendment was both filed and immediately assigned to the Senate Executive Committee that would exempt any gaming facility (this includes, casinos, OTBs and Racetracks) within 10 miles of the border from the Smoke-Free Illinois Act. The legislation to be amended is SB 890. The amendment sponsor is Sen Clayborne, the bill sponsor is Sen. Ira Silverstein

This is proposed amendment on legislation that has not even been signed into law.

At this time, the Senate Executive Committee is scheduled to meet TOMORROW (Thursday, May 24) at 10:30 A.M.

We need your help to ensure that this amendment does not weaken the Smoke-Free Illinois Act. As it stands, the Smoke-Free Illinois Act will be the single most comprehensive smoke-free law in the country and amending it will do nothing but endanger countless lives. Please take a few minutes to call the following Senators and ask them to vote NO on this amendment:

Ira Silverstien -- (217) 782-5500
Debbie Halvorsen -- (217) 782-7419
Dale Righter -- (217) 782-6674
James Clayborne -- (217) 782-5399
James DeLeo -- (217) 782-1035
Rickey Hendon -- (217) 782-6252
Louis Viverito -- (217) 782-0054
Iris Martinez -- (217) 782-8191
Emil Jones -- (217) 782-2728
Frank Watson -- (217) 782-5755
J. Bradley Burzynski -- (217) 782-1977
Christine Radogno -- (217) 782-9407
Todd Sieben -- (217) 782-0180

Please let us know how your calls went by commenting on this blog post.

Posted by Smoke-Free Illinois at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments   

From today's Rockford Register Star:

Business Update: Hospitals’ smoke-free program a success

By Nate Legue
ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR

ROCKFORD — Cigarettes were Barb Boomer’s best friend. For 39 years, they were there when she was happy, sad, stressed or calm.

But last year her employer, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, vowed to ban smoking everywhere on its property, prompting a tough decision for the outpatient phlebotomist.

“I’ve really enjoyed smoking,” Boomer said. “Even though I knew healthwise I wanted to quit, I enjoyed smoking.”

All three Rockford hospitals outlawed smoking Nov. 16 and six months later, administrators say everyone is breathing a smoke-free sigh of relief. While resolute smokers are forced to head for nearby coffee shops and parking lots for a few puffs, they do it on their own time now.

Banning smoking at facilities dedicated to health care may have been an easy decision, but it now looks like Saint Anthony, SwedishAmerican Health System and Rockford Health System were ahead of a major statewide push to limit smoking in public places. A ban that would prohibit smoking in all but a few public places in Illinois passed both houses this month and awaits the governor’s signature.

“There were so many other hospitals and communities that have done this that we really were riding the wave,” said Dr. Kathleen Kelly, chief medical officer at Swedish-American.

The surgeon general warned last year that there is no safe level of secondhand smoke, giving ammunition to anti-smoking advocates and feeding a wave of community proposals to ban smoking in public spots. On Nov. 1, Beloit Memorial Hospital will go smoke free. Its NorthPointe Health and Wellness Campus, now under construction in Roscoe, already prohibits smoking on-site.

The change at the Rockford hospitals may have had the greatest effect on patients’ families, who are among the few people who trudge to the end of the property line at Saint Anthony for a smoke, Boomer said. At SwedishAmerican, administrators held meetings with employees before the ban to explain its purpose, a move that probably lessened any blowback, Kelly said.

“I expected more of a problem than we had,” Kelly said. “We heard resistance from some of our employees. It was an inconvenience for them, and I’m sorry for that, but we really felt that it was important to provide a healthy community around the hospital.”

Posted by Smoke-Free Illinois at 7:21 AM | Permalink | Comments