May 9, 2013
- A News 9 reporter is going to be on the ABC reality show “Whodunnit?”
- Oklahoma’s scariest white rapper has released another music video…May 7, 2013
- Mission Chinese could be coming to Oklahoma City…May 6, 2013
- 12 amusing and funny pics from OKC’s Westboro Baptist Church counter-protests…May 2, 2013
- 18 Possible Nicknames for David Payne’s New Storm Chasin’ Truck…May 1, 2013
- How to make Chicken Fried Steak in your own kitchen…Apr 29, 2013
- Is this the chick that called the OKC Thunder Girl “chunky?” (photos)Apr 25, 2013
- This new Sweet Brown “Cold Poppin” music video is, well, something…Apr 22, 2013
- Channel 9 totally failed at last night’s severe weather coverage…Apr 18, 2013
Surprise: Lawmakers who receive $12,000 from tobacco lobbyists like to help protect the tobacco industry
Feb 21
2013
The guy pictured above with the Affliction shirt and velvet sports jacket is not some dork trying to fit in at Rok Bar or Twin Peaks on a Friday Night. It’s actually State Senator Rob Johnson (R – Yukon). Since 2006, he’s received nearly $12,000 from tobacco lobbyists. That’s more than any other Oklahoma elected official. Knowing that, it shouldn’t be surprising to learn that Senator Smokey helped kill legislation that would have given Oklahoma cities and towns the right to enact their own anti-tobacco laws.
Via the Tulsa World:
A Senate panel killed a bill Monday that would allow cities and towns to pass ordinances more stringent than state laws governing tobacco use.
Opponents of Senate Bill 36 said they were reluctant to tell local businesses what they could and could not do.
“This is not about local control,” said Sen. Rob Johnson, R-Yukon. “It is about infringing on business people’s rights.”
First of all, let me clarify two things:
1. Yes, this legislation could have possibly infringed on business people’s rights to allow toxic, cancer-causing smoke to be inhaled and consumed on their premises. Crazy, huh? Hopefully Senator Johnson can protect us from over-reaching asbestos regulations, too.
2. Senator Johnson does probably try to get into Rok Bar or Twin Peaks on a Friday Night. Just look at that trying too hard loser. I bet he still watches MTV. He looks like his middle name is Roofie.
Anyway, the decision by Johnson, who once again received $12,000 from the tobacco lobby, to kill the legislation is so backwards that even Mary Fallin’s against it. She is leading an effort to get the law put on the ballot as a state question. Check out what her spokesman Alex Weintz said:
“This is a victory for the tobacco lobbyists and the tobacco industry,” said Alex Weintz, a Fallin spokesman. “It’s defeat for the state of Oklahoma and anyone who cares about improving our health. Moving forward, Gov. Fallin will be pursuing alternative measures aimed at reducing deaths and illnesses caused by smoking and secondhand smoke.”
To view and sign the petition, click here.
I guess I’m for this legislation, but I do see some issues.
For one, I know a lot of bar and restaurant owners who spent a chunk of change to create separate smoking facilities at their establishments. Would this law suck for them? Probably. Then again, they’ve more than likely profited from those rooms over the last four or five years, so claiming they’re losing hundreds of thousands of dollars by going smoke-free would be misleading.
I think a bigger concern is having different laws in different cities. Let’s say Oklahoma City established a law banning smoking in all buildings. What would happen if Yukon didn’t enact similar legislation? It would likely give their bars and restaurants a competitive advantage over places in OKC. That’s why instead of taking the easy road out and giving municipalities the power to enact their own laws, we should just get a law on the ballot that bans tobacco use in all indoor facilities. I don’t smoke cigarettes, and I also haven’t received $12,000 from the tobacco lobby, but that makes sense to me.
sadly, this isn’t even the worst thing about yukon, though I’d put him up there.
i found it ironic that even though Oklahoma is firmly GOP controlled and pretty much anything Fallin wants should pass with ease, the bill was killed by the panel containing GOP legislators. I smoke but I do respect non smokers. On the surface it appears to be a good measure but where would it go from there? If a city can enact their own anti smoking rules how long before you can’t smoke while driving in your personal vehicle?(cities could cite it distracts you while driving) how long before you can’t light up on your property if a city employee is present (meter reader, etc.)
James makes a great point. Random checkpoints will be set up along city roads and tobacco-sniffing dogs will search suspicious vehicles. Officers will do a cavity check if they suspect the bulge in your pocket may be a pack of cigarettes. SWAT teams will break down your door and murder your family if you light up.
hopefully it wouldn’t get that bad but I believe New York City has some pretty screwed up smoking laws and I think it was NYC that would fine you if you are driving while smoking with a minor in the car. the whole utility worker thing I seem to remember an article where the law was proposed if say the cable installer comes to your house and you smoke but he/she doesn’t you would be in violation of the law if you lit up while he/she was working in your home (unsafe working environment or something like that)
The party of local control isn’t when it comes to going against campaign donors.
Secondly, the different laws in different cities is a BS argument. All cities have different laws and building codes, it wouldn’t be hard for them to determine these laws when they begin the planning stage of constructing a bar or restaurant.
Also, pretty sure I’ve seen numbers that show business increases at a lot of places when they go non smoking. Smokers will still go and smoke outside when needed, but tons of people tha never wanted to hang out in smoke begin to go to these places
true smokers can go outside if they want (have done it many times myself) but let’s say you are in a town that prohibits smoking on city sidewalks or within so many feet of a roadway or door to a business?
Tough shit (from a former smoker.)
all i am saying is you open up a door when you allow cities and municipalities to set their own ordinances regarding where and when you can light up.
Thought I’d never say this, but I gotta side with big tobacco on this one. And I don’t even smoke. The laws on the books now are tough enough. I can’t remember the last time a smoker bothered me in public. Stricter ordinances aren’t going to make anyone healthier.
Stop wasting energy on pointless smoking laws and figure out a way to improve the roads or education.
The bars are still a big deal. The secondhand smoke is bad for workers and patrons. It’s also the tobacco industries’ recruiting ground for new smokers. More young social smokers = more regular smokers. Half of the states and more than 550 cities are 100% smokefree inside all workplaces. Popular and business-friendly. Agree that statewide smokefree workplace law would be best.
Saying smoking is a problem at a bar is a huge stretch. Some people might complain about loud music at a club or drinking on the river. No one is making those people go those places. If you don’t like something, it doesn’t mean others shouldn’t have their freedoms taken away. You can’t expect to live in a free society if you can’t put up with with other people’s freedoms.
+100
I clicked on the link to sign the petition. Tried to read it, but couldn’t get passed the words “I support Governor Mary Fallin”… Nope, just can’t do it.
+1
Oddly enough, Sen. Johnson offered that he would happily support SWEEPING legislation that would ban smoking in any public areas across the entire state. He just wouldn’t support a change in our preemption laws. I say we hold him to his word. Especially since the entire committee meeting was recorded and he’s “on record”.
ROK bar closed
#1 place smoking needs to be banned- outside the Peake after a Thunder game. All the smokers light up immediately after walking out the door and the rest of us have to gag on the second hand smoke. Disgusting!
Well, if nothing else Mr. Johnson provided a pretty good starting point for a price sheet on what it takes to buy an Oklahoma Senator.