Smoking ban (in some workplaces) passes
Yesterday, the state house voted to ban certain business owners from choosing to permit smoking in their establishments.
The vote: 73-31.
Republicans: Mildly against, 24-17.
Democrats: Overwhelmingly for, 56-7.
There’s lots to say about this deprivation of liberty, but for now, we’ll leave it at two points. First, let nobody get away with saying that the Democrats are the party more favorable to personal liberties, or at least to keeping vices legally permissible. (See the vote breakdown, above.) Second, it’s a tragedy that Republicans weren’t more solidly against this. They can’t make a credible claim to be a party of liberty if they don’t oppose bills like this, which so obviously restrict the realm of personal choice.
May 27, 2009 | Filed Under Uncategorized
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