Gov. Steve Beshear endorsed a statewide smoking ban yesterday at a Frankfort rally to push the bill that would enact the ban.
"Beshear, who later acknowledged that he smoked in college but quit soon afterwards, said Kentucky ranks No. 1 in the nation in smoking and lung cancer," reports Jack Brammer of the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Noting that Kentucky leads the nation in smoking, Beshear said, "Our addiction hurts productivity, jacks up health care costs and literally kills our people. Yet we've never instituted a statewide law to protect Kentuckians from secondhand smoke." Noting that over one-third of Kentuckians live in jurisdictions with smoking bans, he said, "It's time that we extend that protection to all Kentuckians. . . . Years from now, people will wonder why we waited so long."
Republican Rep. Julie Raque Adams of Louisville, a co-sponsor of the bill, noted at the rally that Williamsburg this week became the 23rd Kentucky locality to adopt a smoking ban.
The statewide measure, House Bill 190, was posted for passage in the House today but is not expected to be called for a vote unless supporters show Speaker Greg Stumbo that they have the votes to pass it.
"Beshear, who later acknowledged that he smoked in college but quit soon afterwards, said Kentucky ranks No. 1 in the nation in smoking and lung cancer," reports Jack Brammer of the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Noting that Kentucky leads the nation in smoking, Beshear said, "Our addiction hurts productivity, jacks up health care costs and literally kills our people. Yet we've never instituted a statewide law to protect Kentuckians from secondhand smoke." Noting that over one-third of Kentuckians live in jurisdictions with smoking bans, he said, "It's time that we extend that protection to all Kentuckians. . . . Years from now, people will wonder why we waited so long."
Republican Rep. Julie Raque Adams of Louisville, a co-sponsor of the bill, noted at the rally that Williamsburg this week became the 23rd Kentucky locality to adopt a smoking ban.
The statewide measure, House Bill 190, was posted for passage in the House today but is not expected to be called for a vote unless supporters show Speaker Greg Stumbo that they have the votes to pass it.
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