Representatives Foege & Paulsen sponsor local smoking ban law

Des Moines, Iowa – State Representative Ro Foege (D) of Mt. Vernon and Representative Kraig Paulsen (R) of Hiawatha will sponsor a bill that will allow local communities to adopt stronger restrictions on smoking in public places.

"Iowa is a state that believes in local control," said Paulsen, "I believe this is an important quality of life and health issue and local governments should have a say in the matter." Foege agreed, saying, “local communities ought to at least have the option of passing stronger restrictions on smoking in public places. We don’t need rhetoric on home rule, we need to put it into practice.”

Several communities in Iowa passed smoking bans in public facilities over the past few years. However, they were overturned by Iowa courts because the bans were in conflict with state law. The bi-partisan bill sponsored by Foege and Paulsen will fix state law to allow local communities to have a smoking ban. 

“Local communities play a key role in improving the health status of its residents,” added Foege. “Giving local communities more flexibility to improve the health of Iowans benefits everyone.”

California, which has a ban on smoking in public places, has seen a 19.5% reduction in lung cancer and smoking rates have dropped by 27%.

“Stronger restrictions on smoking in public places keeps Iowans more healthy and also saves money,” said Foege. “With fewer illnesses, private health plans will see their claims drop. The government will also save money on the Medicaid program, which spent $238 million last year on tobacco related illnesses.”

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Representative Ro Foege
State Capitol
Des Moines, IA 50309
ro.foege@legis.state.ia.us
www.rofoege.com
515/281-7328 Legislative Desk
319/895-6043 Home 

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