The Smoke-Free Movement

From the the early days of the Smoke-Free Illinois Campaign we knew that the Illinois people were in strong support of comprehensive smoke-free legislation, now a recent poll proves it!

A poll conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research in late May found that 68% of Illinois voters support the smoke-free law, and that 56% strongly support the law. The poll also found that the majority of voters do not support exempting casinos from the law, with only 29% of those polled saying they would be in support of such a measure.

Interesting to note is that the poll showed that support for the smoke-free law is completely bi-partisan with 71% of Democrats, 68% of Independants, and 64% of Republicans all in favor of the law.

55% of Illinois voters also said that they would look upon Governor Blagojevich more positively if he signs the bill. We're happy to say that the Governor has publically stated that he would "enthusiastically" sign the legislation, and even sent his public health director, Dr. Eric Whitaker, to the ACS Lobby Day in Springfield to make a public commitment to sign SB 500.


To read the full poll memo, follow the following link:
poll%20memo.pdf

Posted by Smoke-Free Illinois at 7:09 AM | Permalink | Comments   

Associated Press
KTVB.COM
Tuesday, June 19, 2007


SALEM, Ore. - The Oregon legislature has given final approval to a bill to
snuff out smoking at all of the state's bars, taverns, bingo halls and
bowling alleys.
The bill now heads to Governor Kulongoski's desk for final approval.
Kulongoski has said he will sign the bill.

The final vote was a victory for anti-smoking groups who have been pushing
for years to extend Oregon's workplace smoking ban to bars and taverns.

The new law will allow smoke shops and cigar bars to continue allowing
smoking, and hotels can designate up to 25 percent of their rooms as
smoking rooms.

Posted by Smoke-Free Illinois at 7:06 AM | Permalink | Comments   

Last Friday New Mexico's smoke-free law went into effect. New Mexico's smoke-free law includes all restuarants and bars.

Since the Illinois House passed SB 500 on May 1, two states (Arizona and New Mexico) have had smoke-free laws go into effect and two other states (Minnesota and New Hampshire) have passed and signed into law comprehensive smoke-free laws.

It's been over six weeks since the Illinois House passed the Smoke-Free Illinois Act and it is still waiting for the Governor's signature. How much longer will workers and citizens of Illinois have to wait?

Click here to send Governor Blagojevich an email asking him to sign SB 500 immediately and without amendment.

Posted by Smoke-Free Illinois at 9:09 AM | Permalink | Comments