CITING DANGERS OF SECONDHAND SMOKE,
GOV. SAYS HE'LL SIGN SMOKE BAN BILL

By Michael C. Levenson
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

BOSTON, NOV. 24, 2003---Gov. Mitt Romney ended weeks of speculation by
personally announcing his support Monday for legislation to ban smoking in
workplaces across Massachusetts, including bars and restaurants.
"I think we've demonstrated now scientifically that secondhand smoke does
present a danger," Romney said at a news conference he called to discuss
sex offender legislation. "Our workers should not have to be subject to
secondhand smoke if they don't want to. They can at home if they want to,
but in the workplace, they shouldn't have to."

Romney had for weeks declined to state his position on the bill, which may
soon be headed to a House-Senate conference committee. The bill's
supporters hope to get it to Romney's desk by early 2004.

The governor had said he was weighing arguments from the public health
community against those from some in the business community, who said
cities and towns, consistent with the Republican tenet of local control,
should decide smoking bans.

Evidently, lobbying from public health advocates succeeded, and many
celebrated the governor's announcement, which makes it all but certain that
Massachusetts will become the sixth state to enact a statewide workplace
smoking ban.

Diane Pickles, executive director of Tobacco Free Massachusetts, a
coalition of 30 groups that advocate tobacco control policies, said she was
thrilled with the governor's support. Secondhand smoke, she said, is the
third leading cause of preventable deaths in the US. 

"This is a very important piece of public health legislation, and there was
a lot of support in the House and Senate," Pickles said.

Republicans in the Senate had sought to stymie the ban and flirted with the
idea of a filibuster. They argued the bill was so riddled with exemptions
for certain workplaces, including country clubs, American Legion halls, and
nursing homes, as to make it "embarrassing" and "stupid." After lengthy
debate, the Senate passed the bill on a 29 to 10 vote, one month after it
cleared the House, 127 to 25.

House and Senate negotiators have yet to be named but are expected to work
out mostly minor differences between the two chambers' bills, and deliver
an agreement by early 2004.

The ban would take effect July 5, 2004.

Officials from the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, which had raised
concerns the bill could hurt business, were not available to comment. The
association has softened its opposition in recent weeks.