EDITORIAL: Leave smoking bans to cities, counties

Publication Date: 2005-07-27

• Author:EDITORIAL
• Publication:Peoria (IL) Journal-Star

Gov. Rod Blagojevich has gotten suddenly and surprisingly hesitant about signing legislation allowing cities to ban smoking in public places, a measure he previously had indicated he would support. "There's an economic-impact argument that's very compelling," Blagojevich said last week, suggesting he was worried that cities which banned smoking would lose business.

And doesn't he think city leaders are smart enough to figure that out?

Apparently not...

in matters such as this, it works best when those who know the community most intimately, and who answer most directly to those who are affected, make the decisions.

Blagojevich should sign this legislation. In this and many other matters, the state should leave local governments alone.