Clean Indoor Air Comments

Floor Debate, February 25, 2010

"Today we are considering the most important public health issue to come before the legislature during our time in the legislature, the Kansas Clean Indoor Air Act.

I am a nurse. I serve on the Health and Human Services Committee. I had the opportunity to hear testimony on this bill for several days last session. I wish all of you could have heard the testimony. It was compelling. We heard from what some might call the usual suspects:

The American Cancer Society; The American Heart Association; the American Lung Association, Kansas Hospital Association, Kansas Medical Society, Kansas State Nurses Association, Kansas Respiratory Care Society, University of Kansas Cancer Center,

And from others whom you might not expect: The March of Dimes (concerned about effects of SHS on the fetus); AARP (concerned about a link between dementia/Alzheimer’s and SHS), Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Kansas Faith Alliance for Health Reform,

What we heard over and over again was that …”the scientific, medical evidence is solid.” Smoking and second hand smoke cause disease and kill Kansans. 4000 Kansans die every year from smoking related diseases, 300 of those from second hand smoke. Let me repeat that, 4000 Kansans die every year from smoking related diseases, 300 of those from second hand smoke. There is no safe level of exposure to second hand smoke.

For many of us, those links between SHS and disease seem distant….walking into a smoking bar today, will not give me cancer tomorrow; It is difficult in our own minds to link the significance of occasional exposure today to what happens months or years down the road. That is why the recent information on the link between second hand smoke and heart disease is so important to understand.

Today we can say that there is a link between smoking bans and fewer heart attacks.

Two recent reports, one by KU researchers, conclude that smoking bans lead to quick and dramatic decreases in the number of heart attacks. After the enactment of a smoking ban, the drop in the number of heart attacks was almost immediate (within 3 months) On the average, One year after the ban was in place, heart attack rates drop 8%; 3 years after the ban, the heart attack rate drops as much as 36%. When Helena, Montana enacted a smoking ban, the heart attack rate dropped a dramatic 40%; then their smoking ban was suspended by the court and the heart attack rate rose back to previous levels. There is a growing body of evidence that links SHS to heart disease.

I know that before voting on a bill. I like to know what my options are. 2221, the Kansas Clean Indoor Air Act is one of two bills in the House dealing with smoking restrictions. It is only fair to take a look at both bills. You have on your desks a brief bill comparison. Please take a look at it.

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The evidence is strong…Secondhand smoke (the smoke that I breathe from the smoking of others) endangers my health, it endangers your health, it endangers the health of your children and grandchildren. To protect the most Kansans from exposure to second hand smoke, 2221 KCIAA is the better bill. It is not perfect, there are compromises that some of your may not like. But it’s alternative, HB 2642, the non-smoker protection act, the “compromise bill” is no compromise, it is soley the work of those opposed to all smoking restrictions. The only compromise in the compromise bill is compromised health for Kansans.

I offer you one comparison:

Liquor is legal. You can choose to drink. However, when you choose to drink and get behind the wheel, you endanger the lives of others and the state steps in to restrict drunk driving. The state does not expect other drivers to simply avoid the drunk driver. The state restricts the drunk driver because that choice endangers others.

Likewise with smoking. Cigarettes are legal. You can choose to smoke. However, we now know that your choice to smoke endangers the life and health of others. The state must restrict your smoking choice. The onus is not on the non-smoker to avoid smokers. The restriction falls to the smoker who is endangering the life and health of others.

Over the years, Kansas has responded when science alerted us to new health hazards. Asbestos, radiation and sanitization standards now protect us and workers from harms unknown years ago. Today science has alerted us to the fact that second hand smoke is far more dangerous than we realized as recently as 4-5 years ago. We are obligated to respond to that science and to protect the health of our citizens.

Kansans are smart. They get the connection between exposure to second hand smoke and disease. 71% of Kansans support a statewide clean indoor air law. This strong majority of Kansans are ready to join the 27 other states (including North Carolina) that have enacted clean indoor air acts.

If you care about improving the health of Kansans, this is the most important vote you can make this year, perhaps in your entire legislative career. There is no viable alternative. Vote to save the lives of 400 Kansans. Vote for clean air for all Kansans. Vote yes on the concur."

Rep. Jill Quigley

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