Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Americans for Prosperity State Director Peggy Venable released the following statement today regarding the SB 1811 Amendment 53 (smoking ban):
We are disappointed that the House included a smoking ban amendment to the fiscal matters bills SB 1811 Friday night. We at Americans for Prosperity view the smoking ban as a violation of private property rights and an expansion of government. Reps. Gary Elkins (R-Houston) and Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) spoke eloquently on those principles.
Where does government stop regulating our behavior? One legislator said if we were truly focused on health we should outlaw tobacco but because we count on over $1 billion in sales tax revenue to the state from the sale of tobacco we do not consider a prohibition.
The smoking ban measure was offered as an amendment by Rep. Myra Crownover (R-Lake Dallas). She filed similar legislation for several sessions.
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety" is a quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin.
Liberty-loving Americans should embrace individual responsibility and the freedom to choose. Business owners should have the ability to choose whether their own establishments are smoking or non-smoking venues and could post signs on the door providing consumer choice.
No one holds a gun to your head and forces you to a pool hall or bar which allows smoking. Its a choice.
The measure passed with a vote of 73-66. It still must make it through the Senate-House final negotiating process on SB 1811. The measure is assuming a savings of an estimated $31 million in state Medicaid costs over the next biennium according to the bills fiscal note.
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Americans for Prosperity State Director Peggy Venable released the following statement today regarding the SB 1811 Amendment 53 (smoking ban):
We are disappointed that the House included a smoking ban amendment to the fiscal matters bills SB 1811 Friday night. We at Americans for Prosperity view the smoking ban as a violation of private property rights and an expansion of government. Reps. Gary Elkins (R-Houston) and Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) spoke eloquently on those principles.
Where does government stop regulating our behavior? One legislator said if we were truly focused on health we should outlaw tobacco but because we count on over $1 billion in sales tax revenue to the state from the sale of tobacco we do not consider a prohibition.
The smoking ban measure was offered as an amendment by Rep. Myra Crownover (R-Lake Dallas). She filed similar legislation for several sessions.
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety" is a quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin.
Liberty-loving Americans should embrace individual responsibility and the freedom to choose. Business owners should have the ability to choose whether their own establishments are smoking or non-smoking venues and could post signs on the door providing consumer choice.
No one holds a gun to your head and forces you to a pool hall or bar which allows smoking. Its a choice.
The measure passed with a vote of 73-66. It still must make it through the Senate-House final negotiating process on SB 1811. The measure is assuming a savings of an estimated $31 million in state Medicaid costs over the next biennium according to the bills fiscal note.
