It's not easy changing public policy that's as old as dirt, no matter how much good a change will create. And you're guaranteed to make some unfriends along the way.
But two local lawmakers, four members of the Northwestern Michigan College board of trustees, a Traverse City Commission majority, Munson Medical Center, the Benzie and Leelanau county boards of commissioners and hundreds of other public officials have all chose to ban smoking in virtually all workplaces plus some parks, beaches and campuses.
And now, after years of wrangling the Michigan Legislature has finally approved a ban on smoking in virtually all workplaces, including bars and restaurants.
State Sen. Michelle McManus, a Lake Leelanau Republican, and freshman Rep. Dan Scripps, a Leland Democrat, both voted for a bill that would make virtually all Michigan workplaces smoke-free as of May.
The senate voted 24-13 last week to approve the bill. The House, which had passed similar bills in recent years, approved it again, 75-30, also last week. Gov. Jennifer Granholm has said she'll sign it.
As a committee chairman, State Sen. Jason Allen, a Traverse City Republican, stalled a tobacco ban by refusing to hold hearings on a proposed Senate bill and refusing a vote. He voted against the ban last week. "I simply do not believe in mandates," Allen said.
Rep. Wayne Schmidt, another Traverse City Republican, voted "no." In a press release, Schmidt said he didn't support the bill because it didn't include exemptions for non-profit organizations, private clubs and special fund raisers "like our local Father Fred cigar dinner fundraiser." The bill did exempt smoke shops and Detroit casinos.
House Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer, R-Kewadin, also voted no.
McManus called the ban a major public health issue and said if the state can mandate hand-washing it can protect people from second-hand smoke.
"It's also personal for me, I just have a lot of personal reasons I would support a ban that I don't wish to divulge," she said.
Northwestern Michigan College trustees Robert Brick, Williams Myers, Cheryl Follette and Susan Sheldon voted in late November to make all of the college's campuses smoke-free by next fall. Trustees Douglas Bishop, Walter Hooper and K. Ross Childs voted against the ban.
The Traverse City commission voted in October to ban smoking at city beaches, picnic areas and playgrounds. It passed a workplace ban long ago.
Last year, the county boards in Leelanau and Benzie counties voted to ban smoking in all workplaces. Emmet, Charlevoix, Antrim and Cheboygan counties have done the same.
At last, it seems the will of the people -- more than 70 percent of state residents have consistently supported a ban -- is being heeded. Despite all that Big Tobacco money to the contrary.
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