HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions 2005 (18) LOCAL CONTROL RE
RESOLUTION #
WHEREAS, secondhand smoke is a Class A carcinogen containing over 4,000
chemicals, 200 of which are known poisons and 50 of which are known to cause
cancer; and
WHEREAS, secondhand smoke kills 50,000 to 60,000 Americans and more than
1,200 Wisconsinites every year from heart disease and lung cancer; and
WHEREAS, children are particularly vulnerable to the hazards of secondhand
smoke, which causes respiratory tract infections, asthma induction and
aggravation, middle ear infections, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and
decreased lung function; and
WHEREAS, employees should not be forced to risk their health through exposure
to dangerous and deadly toxins in their workplace; and
WHEREAS, the most effective way to protect employees and public health from
the hazards of secondhand smoke is to eliminate secondhand smoke by creating
smoke -free environments; and
WHEREAS, the local governments are directly responsible for protecting the
public health and safety in Wisconsin's citizens; and
WHEREAS, the undersigned believe that the issue of smoking in public places
and work sites should be a concern for all levels of government - federal,
state, and local; and
WHEREAS, that preemption runs counter to standard legislative practice of
setting minimum standards that local governments may exceed; and
WHEREAS, the state legislature should not act to deprive local governments of
the authority to protect people from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED:
1. The undersigned hereby requests that the Wisconsin Legislature
strengthen state laws to fully protect workers and the public from the
known health dangers in secondhand smoke by adopting legislation that
creates smoke -free workplaces.
2. The undersigned also requests that any state legislation or regulation
must preserve the right of local levels of government to adopt more
restrictive measures to protect citizens from secondhand smoke.
Dated this 13 day of May, 2005.
Offered by: St. Croix County Health and Human Services Board.
AFFIRMATIVE: NEGATIVE:
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