2 Washington State Groups File Separate Initiatives to Ban Smoking [03/19-6]

Excerpts from: Two initiatives take aim at indoor smoking One may ban smoking in areas where kids are present

By Richard Roesler The Spokesman Review [03/19/04]

Spokane-area restaurateurs, bar owners and anti-smoking activists are gearing up for battle over two proposed initiatives to limit smoking.

Filed Monday by Breathe Easy Washington, a group of smoking foes, the tougher ban is backed by the state medical and dental associations. Co-chairman Kevin Phelps said the group expects to spend $1 million to $1.5 million collecting signatures and promoting the ballot initiative.

A second initiative was filed Friday by owners of smoke-friendly businesses. It would ban indoor smoking in areas with children, such as restaurants or bowling alleys. But smoking would still be allowed in bars, lounges, taverns and casinos.

Both of the smoking-ban initiatives now face the same hurdle: Organizers have until July 2 to gather 198,000 signatures to put the measure on the November ballot.

Proponents of the flat-out ban call it a workers' rights issue. Servers, musicians and Bingo hall staff work in smoky environments, inhaling the sort of second-hand smoke banned from offices years ago under Washington's Clean Indoor Air Act.

Smokers' rights advocates argue that employees who don't like smoking can find work elsewhere. But in a depressed economy it's not that easy, Carlson said. She's a single mom, supporting a 16-year-old son, and said she put out hundreds of resumes before finding her bowling alley job.

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