By Laura Elizabeth Morales
A measure to impose a statewide ban on smoking still has life in the Texas Senate. Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) has said he will try to bring his bill SB 544 to a vote this week.
Supporters of the proposed statewide smoking ban like the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and Smoke Free Texas say they support a ban because secondhand smoke is dangerous to public health.
The legislation has bipartisan support but many business minded conservatives are opposed to a statewide smoking ban because of its restrictions on individual liberties.
According to the Young Conservatives of Texas regardless of the health hazards associated with smoking smoking cigarettes is not illegal. Every Texan has the right to weigh the consequences of this activity and the personal liberty to choose whether or not they should smoke.
Nanny-staters want to dictate to business owners and consumers instead of letting them make their own market-based decisions" said Brendan Steinhauser FreedomWorks State and Federal Campaigns Director.
The Young Conservatives of Texas further argued that while citywide smoking bans are still cumbersome they are preferred to a statewide ban because municipal governments are more in tune with the needs and wants of their citizens.
Senator and doctor Bob Duell has been critical of the bill arguing that businesses should have the right to decide whether or not to allow smoking in their establishments.
The bill failed to get enough votes on Monday and with time running out Senator Ellis has said Lt. Gov. Dewhurst agreed to make it the first thing we take up" if Ellis had enough votes according to KVUE News.
Overall many groups believe SB 544 is dead but those groups both in favor and opposed to the ban are still rallying support for their causes.
I think those of us who are nonsmokers but love freedom we see a real infringement on private-property rights" said Peggy Venable Texas Director of Americans for Prosperity in an interview with the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
The Young Conservatives of Texas further argued that while citywide smoking bans are still cumbersome they are preferred to a statewide ban because municipal governments are more in tune with the needs and wants of their citizens.
Senator and doctor Bob Duell has been critical of the bill arguing that businesses should have the right to decide whether or not to allow smoking in their establishments.
The bill failed to get enough votes on Monday and with time running out Senator Ellis has said Lt. Gov. Dewhurst agreed to make it the first thing we take up" if Ellis had enough votes according to KVUE News.
Overall many groups believe SB 544 is dead but those groups both in favor and opposed to the ban are still rallying support for their causes.
I think those of us who are nonsmokers but love freedom we see a real infringement on private-property rights" said Peggy Venable Texas Director of Americans for Prosperity in an interview with the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
