If we were going to stick around, I might consider running against Carol Roessler. Lucky for Wisconsin, we’ll be gone in a couple of months. 
Roessler ‘firmly’ backs smoking ban
At least one area legislator already knows where she stands on Gov. Jim Doyle’s proposed smoking ban.
State Sen. Carol Roessler, a Republican, said she “firmly, strongly” supports the ban. Evidence, she said, proves smoking negatively impacts health enough to justify a ban.
Roessler, of Oshkosh, said she also endorses the governor’s proposed tax increase, which would raise the cigarette tax by $1.25. Higher prices, she said, would give people another incentive to quit.
Perhaps it’s time for Carol to admit she’s a Democrat, and lose that “R”.
The increase would benefit children, too, she said. The changes would discourage young people from starting and encourage child smokers to quit.
Ah yes, if it’s for the benefit of the chiiiiiildren, it’s ok to dicate what grownups do in a bar or restaurant. Since when do kids pay taxes, or go to bars, or pay for an expensive meal at a restaurant?
Roessler said the proposed ban and tax increase would not only discourage smoking. The proposals would benefit everyone’s pocketbook in the form of reduced health-care expenses, she said.
No, what it’ll do is put tax money in another state’s coffers, or benefit the tribes since they don’t pay federal tax and smokes are a bit cheaper.
“This is going to say to smokers, ‘You’re going to have to pay for the consequences of smoking,’” she said.
As a matter of fact, we already do. They call it discrimination if color or sexual orientation is involved. Question: When are the drinkers and the drunk drivers going to start paying out the wazoo? We’ve read about too many people with their 10th or more drunk driving offense, yet they aren’t paying. Raise the tax on alcohol….maybe that would stop people from drinking? Naw…that won’t work either!
State Rep. John Townsend, R-Fond du Lac, hasn’t yet revealed his opinion of Doyle’s anti-smoking proposals. He thinks the issue needs research and discussion before anyone can make a decision, he said. The government and the public should have the chance to weigh the pros and cons.
John is actually a reasonable guy. He thinks things through fairly carefully before making a decision. I prefer a person like that over the “knee jerk” type any day.
Smokers already pay higher insurance premiums, more in taxes and are treated like pariahs. The government just promotes it.
Dennis York puts it sooooooo much better!
