By Dave Thompson
Bismarck, ND – The American Lung Association of North Dakota and the group "Healthy North Dakota" say they have two legislative priorities this session that they say will cut down on smoking.
One is to ban smoking in all indoor work places -- including bars and restaurants. And the groups want to raise the state's tobacco tax by 70-cents a pack -- from the current 44 cents to $1.14.
"It is best to think of this as a 'win tax,'" said American Lung Association executive director Janel Schmitz. "This tax is a win for public health, a win for state government, a win for smokers and their battle against addiction and a win for youth who can no longer afford to start this deathly habit."
The smoking ban legislation would be tougher than ordinances recently approved in Fargo and West Fargo, in that smoking would be banned in allindoor workplaces, including bars and restaurants.
Schmitz says a statewide ban is appropriate.
"What we're hearing from individual communities is 'it's expensive to do it.' You also get problems from a community five miles down the road, and what are they doing versus what we're doing. And also, within communities, there are restaurant and bar owners afraid to go smoke-free because they're afraid to offend Uncle Joe or friend Harry. So I think it's appropriate that it comes from the state level."
Schmitz says she believes there is legislative support for both initiatives. She says the legislation is now being drafted, and sponsors are being found.