Should state or cities control smoking policy?

Publication Date: 2008-01-06

• Author:STACEY BECKER
• Publication:Dubuque Telegraph Herald, IA

Dubuque City Council will be asked to support local control

The new year brought about a statewide smoking ban in Illinois. On Monday night, the Tobacco Free Coalition hopes the Dubuque City Council will support a smoking policy that would give the power to the city, not the state.

The coalition, which is a grantee of the Dubuque County Health Department, has asked the city to sign a Local Control Resolution in support of local control over tobacco-free environments.

"The resolution does not commit you (the city) to passing a tobacco-free ordinance, but states that cities and counties should have the ability to do so to protect the health of their citizens," stated Angie Brandel, anti-tobacco coordinator with Hillcrest Family Services, in a letter addressed to the council.

The resolution, if signed, requests the Iowa General Assembly and the governor pass legislation that would allow local control of smoking in public places. Currently, local governments cannot restrict smoking beyond existing state law.