LANSING- Tupac A. Hunter (D-Detroit) released this statement today after the State House Committee on Regulatory Reform approved smokefree workplace legislation that included exemptions for certain businesses.

“I applaud Representative Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park) for taking the initiative in moving this legislation out of committee. However, I do not believe this legislation represents a meaningful step in making worksites smokefree across the state of Michigan. Unfortunately, this bill includes the same exemptions that led to legislative gridlock which resulted in yet another failure of the Michigan Legislature to solve this very important public health issue. Again, I am afraid that the same gridlock will exist between the two chambers because of the insistence of some legislative leaders on bending and bowing to various special interests that want to see inaction or a watered-down, meaningless smoking ban.”

"This is clearly a public health issue that deserves a strong, swift solution, and the House’s measure falls far short. I maintain that including exemptions is a knee-jerk response that buys into lobbyists’ scare tactics about the loss of jobs when their claims have already been proven false in other states. This is just another political volley when we need political courage. People are dying, our health care costs are skyrocketing, and we’re fiddling around while people’s health goes up in smoke.”

“Unfortunately, the legislative leaders have proven again that they are not serious about dealing with this issue in a meaningful way. I would urge Senate Majority Leader, Michael Bishop (R-Rochester), to take up my Senate Bill 469, which would place a referendum for a full smoking ban in all workplaces on the November 2010 general election ballot. I believe this is our best hope for a statewide smoking ban, by allowing citizens to democratically decide on the issue at the ballot box.”

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Sen. Hunter represents the 5th district, which is comprised of northwest Detroit, Dearborn and Inkster. He serves as Minority Vice Chair of the Banking & Financial Institutions and the Homeland Security & Emerging Technologies Committees. He is also a member of the Commerce & Tourism and the Economic Development & Regulatory Reform Committees.