Smoking Ban Bill Gains Council Support

A smoking ban bill picked up support needed to put the issue before St. Charles County voters next year.

Three members of the St. Charles County Council opted to co-sponsor Councilman Joe Cronin’s smoking ban measure bill during Monday’s work session. That virtually assures the bill will be passed by the seven-person council.

Council members Terry Hollander, R-District 5, John White, R-District 7, and Nancy Matheny, R-District 3, all got behind Cronin’s proposal.

“I believe the people of the county should have the vote,” Hollander said. “It’s something that’s been in the news. It’s been discussed.”

If the bill is approved, St. Charles County voters would vote on a countywide smoking ban in August 2012.

Four votes would be enough to pass the council, but it’s not enough to override a potential veto by County Executive Steve Ehlmann.

On Tuesday, Ehlmann said he is keeping an open mind on the issue, and he couldn’t speculate on what he would do until the bill’s final version is passed.

“Philosophically, I have a real problem with government telling businesses how to run themselves,” Ehlmann said. “On the other hand, if it really is a health issue, then that’s a different story. But if it’s a health issue, why have exemptions?”

During the work session, much of the discussion focused on the bill’s casino exemption. Ameristar Casino in St. Charles is the only casino in St. Charles County.

Cronin, R-District 1, of St. Paul, said he included the exemption because casinos in Illinois lost money to St. Louis County casinos when the state across the river banned smoking without exemptions. He said he didn’t want to put any of the casino’s 1,600 jobs at risk.

In an earlier interview with Patch, he also said he included the exemption to gain support on the council to pass the bill.

Hollander emphasized that the exemption would cover only the gambling floor, not bars or restaurants in the casino.

Councilmen Joe Brazil, R-District 2, and Paul Wynn, R-District 4, both are adamantly against putting a smoking ban on the ballot because they believe it violates business owners’ rights.

"Smoking is horrible. I’ve never taken one puff of a cigarette,” Wynn said. “But to me, it’s an issue of freedom. I could see next, we’ll say to McDonald’s that we're going to ban sugary drinks.”

Councilman Jerry Daugherty, D-District 6, also opposes the bill, but for a different reason. Daugherty, of Portage des Sioux, said he opposes any exemptions to a smoking ban.

“I don’t think this is right,” Daugherty said. “If it’s a health issue, then there should be no exemptions. I’ve said that since the day I got in office.”

Brazil and Wynn both said they object that casinos get exemptions because they bring a lot of money, while small businesses get little or no breaks from government.

“I would still be against this bill because of personal rights issues, but it would be easier to swallow if it weren’t for the casino exemption,” Brazil said after the meeting.

Wynn said no one puts a gun to restaurant and bar patrons’ heads to force them to come into a restaurant. He said business and property owners should be able choose what happens in their establishments, as long as it’s legal. Workers can find other jobs, he said.

Cronin acknowledged the argument always comes down to owners’ rights versus other people’s health. He said he asked a waitress who was pregnant if she worried about secondhand smoke affecting her baby.

“I got a blank stare,” Cronin said. “She said, ‘I have no choice. There are no other jobs.’”

Cronin said, “I truly believe this is a health issue.”

Brazil asked why the health of casino workers was less important than workers’ health in other businesses.

Hollander responded, “The casino is the third or fourth largest employer in St. Charles County. You put them at a disadvantage when right across the river, within sight of the St. Charles casino, is another casino where they do have the exemption.”

Cronin said he would approach St. Louis County officials and offer to ban smoking in St. Charles County casinos if they would do likewise.