WEAC Supports Governor's Anti Smoking Initiative

Governor Doyle launched a comprehensive statewide anti-smoking
initiative Wednesday (January 24, 2007) that would ban smoking in public places statewide, increase the cost of cigarettes, and expand smoking cessation programs to improve public health for people in Wisconsin.

The plan would:

• Ban smoking in all public buildings, workplaces, restaurants, and taverns.
• Increase the cigarette tax by $1.25 a pack and dedicate the funds to paying the cost of tobacco-related illness.
• Increase programs to help people quit smoking and live healthier lives.

“We urge all legislators and citizens who advocate for children to join us in supporting the governor’s initiative," said WEAC President Stan Johnson.

“WEAC members work with the state’s children every day in our great schools, teaching them the skills and supplying them with the knowledge that will help them to get the most out of their lives. With that in mind, it would be impossible for us to turn away from an idea that targets the one preventable activity that could do the most to shorten their lives: tobacco use," Johnson said.

“All of the research I have seen says that Governor Doyle’s proposal would prevent thousands of Wisconsin children from taking up the tobacco habit, and I do not see how anyone, in good conscience, could fail to support such a measure."

You can help support the governor's initiative. Go to the OnWEAC Cyberlobby in the Members Only site and encourage your legislators to support the governor's initiative.

Governor's press release (pdf file)

Posted January 26, 2007