Legislature must step up for citizens

I am eagerly waiting for the day when our Legislature will follow the lead of other states and pass a comprehensive public smoking ban in Washington. All workers deserve to work in an environment free from the health hazards of second-hand smoke. Studies show that waitresses who work in smoke-filled restaurants can have cancer rates four times that of people who work in office buildings where smoking is already prohibited. It is unreasonable to expect that certain workers should be protected from the hazards of second-hand smoke while others are privileged to enjoy clean air simply because they work in an office building.

Second-hand smoke puts the health of our community at stake, killing some 53,000 non-smokers in the United States every year. Each time someone is exposed to second hand smoke, they breathe in a classified group A carcinogen – a substance known to cause cancer in humans.

While I believe that the health benefits of creating smoke-free workplaces far outweigh any costs, it is important to note that smoking bans do not hurt business. California reports that employment and revenues have increased every year since the statewide smoking ban. Prohibiting smoking in all public places simply makes sense – it’s about protecting the health of all workers in Washington and our community as a whole.

Everett