Challenge fires up smoking-ban debate again | The Columbus Disp...

Opponents of Ohio's indoor-smoking ban said yesterday that they have uncovered evidence of "massive" voter fraud on the part of ban proponents, more than three years after voters approved the curbs on smoking.

[Andre]

Can we just move on?
I and a group of work friends now go out to bars regularly since we can breath smoke free air and our clothes don't stink of smoke when we leave.
I especially appreciate the ban when I go to a state that doesn't have a ban and have to endure smoky atmosphere.

[Native]

You know Mr. Nash I really do get tired of correcting you.

It was 59% of the 34% of the REGISTERED VOTERS, that is not 59% of the adult population of Ohio. It isn't even a MAJORITY of the REGISTERED OHIO VOTERS.

Please stop writing the story in a way that is skewing and slanting it to appear that a MAJORITY OF OHIOIANS voted for the ban when that is not the truth.

[Native]

No Andre we can't move on. First of all there are constitutional issues with this law, not only as a violation of the rights of the business and property owner to do what they want on their property, but also in the way that it was put on the ballot.

Secondly this "ban" was misrepresented from the start as something that was going to leave certain entities untouched which it didn't do.

There is also now the question of were there enough signatures to get it on the ballot to begin with, which in turn makes me question everything that we have voted on since this. I mean if we start digging what other ballots items might not have had enough signatures? The school levies maybe? Or maybe the Casino issue?

If they didn't catch it with the signatures on the smoking ban petitions what else did they not catch the signatures on?

[Birde125]

Go ahead get the needed signatures to put it back on the ballot and then vote again. The result will be the same. No smoking in Restaurants and Bars...

[Smoke-free advocate8908]

Obviously those who challenge the vote care nothing for the health of their fellow Ohioans. They must also be unaware that less than 20% of adults in the U S are smokers, and the other 80% are paying for the health problems smokers cause themselves and others with higher insurance costs. What a selfish bunch!

[Hayduke]

Native wrote:

No Andre we can't move on. First of all there are constitutional issues with this law, not only as a violation of the rights of the business and property owner to do what they want on their property, but also in the way that it was put on the ballot.
Secondly this "ban" was misrepresented from the start as something that was going to leave certain entities untouched which it didn't do.
There is also now the question of were there enough signatures to get it on the ballot to begin with, which in turn makes me question everything that we have voted on since this. I mean if we start digging what other ballots items might not have had enough signatures? The school levies maybe? Or maybe the Casino issue?
If they didn't catch it with the signatures on the smoking ban petitions what else did they not catch the signatures on?

You have NO right to "do what you want" with your business....you never did..
Bars may not allow nudity or drunkeness.....and may only be open for business during State allowed hours....
You can't put slot machines in your "private" club....

The smoking ban should be expanded to include ALL public places...ie parks, ballfields, shopping malls......

Wherever there are "designated" smoking areas..[Columbus Zoo, Kings Island, etc]...most smokers ignor them....

Smokers are the most inconsiderate group in our society....just look at the cigarette butts at the freeway exit ramps....

[FRED]

Native wrote:

You know Mr. Nash I really do get tired of correcting you.
It was 59% of the 34% of the REGISTERED VOTERS, that is not 59% of the adult population of Ohio. It isn't even a MAJORITY of the REGISTERED OHIO VOTERS.
Please stop writing the story in a way that is skewing and slanting it to appear that a MAJORITY OF OHIOIANS voted for the ban when that is not the truth.

WRONG AND MISINFORMED AS USUAL FOR SMOKERS.

[Topper]

Why do smokers sue tobbacco companies for "damages caused from smoking" ??????

[Fed Up]

Native wrote:

No Andre we can't move on. First of all there are constitutional issues with this law, not only as a violation of the rights of the business and property owner to do what they want on their property, but also in the way that it was put on the ballot.
Secondly this "ban" was misrepresented from the start as something that was going to leave certain entities untouched which it didn't do.
There is also now the question of were there enough signatures to get it on the ballot to begin with, which in turn makes me question everything that we have voted on since this. I mean if we start digging what other ballots items might not have had enough signatures? The school levies maybe? Or maybe the Casino issue?
If they didn't catch it with the signatures on the smoking ban petitions what else did they not catch the signatures on?

Very well said! I don't understand how these laws can be written after a vote anyway! There were supposed to be some exemptions and the Nazi's have done it to us again. I know many smokers and non-smokers who would not vote for it again as the law is written. Prior to the ban there were smoking and non-smoking bars and resturants. It's a busniess decision which should be left up to the individual business. People actually vote with their money, and many bars and resturants closed very shortly after this went into effect. I'd like to see the numbers on this. What has this done to the job market and the overall economy? I say let's put it on the ballot again, I'd bet it would'nt pass.

[John]

GIve it a rest people. Ohioans do NOT want smoking in bars and restaurants. How many times do we have to say this. I too think the penalties are wrong. We should fine the smoker, by the police not the health department, and the bar should get a 3 fines then you lose your liquor license for 30 days. Then it would be amazing to see how well they (the bars) enforce the law.

[bette]

I miss seeing Marlboro men. Occasionally I catch sight of some dude on the street with a cig hanging out of his mouth and it's a real turn-on. Especially so if he's straddling a motorcycle. What happened to all the men? Big loss of testosterone in our culture.

[Jeff]

Native wrote:

You know Mr. Nash I really do get tired of correcting you.
It was 59% of the 34% of the REGISTERED VOTERS, that is not 59% of the adult population of Ohio. It isn't even a MAJORITY of the REGISTERED OHIO VOTERS.
Please stop writing the story in a way that is skewing and slanting it to appear that a MAJORITY OF OHIOIANS voted for the ban when that is not the truth.

The story says "59% of voters" as in 59% of people who actually took the time to go vote on this issue. That's an 18 point victory, which is verging on "landslide." If so many other Ohioans were against this law, why didn't they go out to vote on it?

If you want to overturn this law or change it, go gather signatures and put it on the ballot. I'm pretty sure that it'll fail, but you have every right to try.

[Native]

FRED wrote:

<quoted text>
WRONG AND MISINFORMED AS USUAL FOR SMOKERS.

Prove it. Crunch the numbers and prove it.

Because I have. You can get all the information from the Board of Elections site.

I will be waiting for your numbers and please do explain what each number represents.

[Native]

Smoke-free advocate8908 wrote:

Obviously those who challenge the vote care nothing for the health of their fellow Ohioans. They must also be unaware that less than 20% of adults in the U S are smokers, and the other 80% are paying for the health problems smokers cause themselves and others with higher insurance costs. What a selfish bunch!

Again misinformed. That is exactly what the big tobacco settlements were and are for. At least the ones that GOVERNOR STRICKLAND AND COMPANY haven't sold off. That is what the increase in the taxes per pack were for. That is why smokers pay higher insurance premiums.

So no, you don't pay for the health care for smokers.

[Native]

Hayduke wrote:

<quoted text>
You have NO right to "do what you want" with your business....you never did..
Bars may not allow nudity or drunkeness.....and may only be open for business during State allowed hours....
You can't put slot machines in your "private" club....
The smoking ban should be expanded to include ALL public places...ie parks, ballfields, shopping malls......
Wherever there are "designated" smoking areas..[Columbus Zoo, Kings Island, etc]...most smokers ignor them....
Smokers are the most inconsiderate group in our society....just look at the cigarette butts at the freeway exit ramps....

Actually it is banned in all public places. The only place that it is allowed is in one's own car, and in one's home and there are specific rules on those two places if you read the ban completely. There is even an distance from doorways given that a smoker has to be so that smoke doesn't enter a building.

I still say that we should be following that law, especially down on High Street and Broad Street. Because that one would put any smoker in the middle of the intersection. Bad news would be the traffic type up, good news is that it would be perfectly legal because one would be following the law as it is written.

[Native]

Jeff wrote:

<quoted text>
The story says "59% of voters" as in 59% of people who actually took the time to go vote on this issue. That's an 18 point victory, which is verging on "landslide." If so many other Ohioans were against this law, why didn't they go out to vote on it?
If you want to overturn this law or change it, go gather signatures and put it on the ballot. I'm pretty sure that it'll fail, but you have every right to try.

I know what it says and if you read my very first post on this it will tell you that I am tired of correcting the paper on this one. It was an off election. Only, I believe, 34% of the registered voters in Ohio bothered to vote at all. It was 59% of those voters that voted, that put the ban into place. It was not voted on by a majority of registered voters in Ohio. I have had alot of people tell me that they were confused by the ballot and mistakenly voted for the wrong thing. Alot of people voted the way that they did because they were lied to. Ask your local VFW, Eagles, private clubs, family owned businesses. They were all told that they were going to be exempt from the ban. They were told that by the likes of Tracy Sabetta and company.

[Just Had to]

Hey Dude, Gotta a light??? To say people are inconsiderate is a broad based biased comment. Especially those you have never met!! Wonder if your a single adult. If so, I bet I know why.....

Hayduke wrote:

<quoted text>
You have NO right to "do what you want" with your business....you never did..
Bars may not allow nudity or drunkeness.....and may only be open for business during State allowed hours....
You can't put slot machines in your "private" club....
The smoking ban should be expanded to include ALL public places...ie parks, ballfields, shopping malls......
Wherever there are "designated" smoking areas..[Columbus Zoo, Kings Island, etc]...most smokers ignor them....
Smokers are the most inconsiderate group in our society....just look at the cigarette butts at the freeway exit ramps....

[Former SmokerTOledo]

John wrote:

GIve it a rest people. Ohioans do NOT want smoking in bars and restaurants. How many times do we have to say this. I too think the penalties are wrong. We should fine the smoker, by the police not the health department, and the bar should get a 3 fines then you lose your liquor license for 30 days. Then it would be amazing to see how well they (the bars) enforce the law.

As a former smoker of 25 years I can honestly say YOUR AN IDIOT. The bar owners do everything they can. I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS BAN and I NEVER HAVE Another > I pray when the Casinos are built customers will be able to smoke in them. I don't smoke anymore, but I believe a private owner should be able to allow his customers to partake in a legal activity if they wish.

[Hmm]

Sounds like this group has uncovered a good deal of fraud concerning Issue 5.
No surprises there, the smokefree organizations are quite fraudulent and are not in favor of tobacco prohibition.

Wake up people, they are simply professional lobbyists.

Sabetta has moved on to "green" lobbying.
Maybe she can front Tipper Gore's band while she's at it.

[Lives to Ride Horses]

The people have spoken on this issue, folks. We don't want to smell
smoke where we eat and drink. There is nothing more frustrating than
to go to a good restaurant, pay good money for a meal, and then have
some idiot light up a smelly cigar at the table next to you, so you don't
really taste your food, just the cigar. And I think there might be some
argument that the bad economy put some of those bars out of business,
not just the smoking ban. If you want changes, put it on the ballot so
we can vote it down again.