From: Whipple, Deb (GOV)
Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009
3:41 PM
Subject: What the Governor is talking about today
What the Governor’s Talking about Today
Friday,
December 11, 2009
Governor Will Sign Smoking Ban
Legislation
The governor is applauding final action on House
Bill 4377 passed by the Legislature
on Thursday that will ban smoking in Michigan bars, restaurants and most other
workplaces beginning May 1, 2010. “It’s a terrific gift to Michigan,” she
said.
There are exceptions to the smoking ban: the gaming
floors of the three Detroit casinos (but casino bars, restaurants and hotels
must be smoke-free), tobacco specialty retail stores, existing cigar bars, home
offices and motor vehicles. The legislation also does not affect
Michigan’s 20 American Indian casinos.
When the governor signs the bill into law, Michigan
will be the 38th state with a workplace smoking ban.
Key messages:
• The governor has long supported a smoking
ban and has repeatedly called for it in her State of the State
addresses.
• Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause
of preventable death in Michigan, resulting in approximately 2,500 deaths each
year. Smoking-related illnesses in adults include heart disease, cancer,
stroke, chronic lower respiratory illnesses and diabetes. Children and
adolescents exposed to secondhand smoke can develop asthma, ear infections,
colds and pneumonia.
• Each year in Michigan, smoking is
responsible for $3.4 billion in health-care costs and $3.8 billion in lost
productivity.
# # #