DFL majority could influence smoking ban

By Amie Steffen | The Daily Journal

Published Monday, December 11, 2006

With leadership swinging to the Democrats come January, advocates for a statewise smoking ban are heralding 2007 as the year it could happen.

But Rep. Bud Nornes of District 10A said it’s unlikely any bill, let alone a smoking ban, will come before the legislature within the first few weeks — even if the House leadership supports it.

“I’ve yet to see that happen in any session I’ve been involved with,” Nornes, a Republican who was re-elected for a sixth term in office, said. “I don’t see any urgency on the horizon as far as legislation is concerned.”

The Minnesota Smoke-Free Coalition, established in 1984 to reduce tobacco use in the state, has pushed for their proposed Freedom to Breathe Act since 2004. The Act, modeled after similar laws in other states, would ban smoking in all workplaces in the state, which would include bars and restaurants. It had previously not come to a vote in the House.

But two major changes in 2006 may help turn the tide next year — the release of the U.S. Surgeon General’s report on the dangers of secondhand smoke, and the election of DFL candidates to state offices.

Nornes has been opposed to such a bill before, and likely will continue to oppose it. His largely rural constituency, coupled with a failed Otter Tail County resolution this summer, only back up his stance.

“I have been opposed to a statewide ban, and (would) need to be convinced otherwise,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a Republican-Democratic issue, but they seem to think it is.”

“They” include some DFL electees at the state level, and the Coalition, who will lobby the State Capitol Jan. 30.

Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty has said he’d sign the ban into law. Some predict the new Legislature could pass it within weeks of the start of the session in January.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.