Mesquite Citizen Journal

Mesquite Citizen Journal

Mesquite Clean Air Advocates Rally Against Weakened Legislation Posting Date: 08/01/2011 Michael McGreer

Assemblyman Crescent Hardy (R. Dist. 20) is one of 21 members of the Nevada State Assembly who contributed to the weakening of the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act (NCIAA) during the last legislative session according to an American Lung Association Tobacco Policy Update of the 2011 Nevada Legislative session. The report was provided to participants of the 2011 Smoke-Free Celebration held Friday, July 29, at the Mesa View Regional Hospital in Mesquite. State Senator Dr. Joe Hardy (R. Dist, 12) was one of eight state senators recognized for his continued, but unsuccessful, support of the NCIAA. Both Assembly District 20 and Senate District 12 cover Mesquite. The two Hardy's are unrelated and clearly hold separate views on smoking issues. Allison Newlon Moser, Executive Director, American Lung Association in Nevada, reported at Friday's meeting that every state except Nevada has improved their policies toward improving the air in their communities. Nevada is the only state to roll back its clean air laws. Moser told the group that some Nevada legislators acted against the will of the people of Nevada by working against legislation that would improve air quality and, in fact, passed legislation that weakened the 2006 NCIAA law. Among the bills weakening the NCIAA was a provision to allow bars, taverns and saloons to serve food in smoking areas, which Assemblyman Hardy supported, and legislation prohibiting the use of tobacco suit funds in anti-smoking campaigns. City Councilmen Allan Litman and Kraig Hafen also attended the celebration. Litman told the group that the new Mayor and all the city councilmen are non-smokers. He talked about his father, a smoker, who had his first heart attack at 39 and died at 50. He also noted that during his military career, the tobacco companies donated cases of cigarettes to soldiers which helped the industry build clientele. Litman reminded the group that during his election bid he proposed a Mesquite sin tax on tobacco which was widely criticized, Yet, Litman pointed out that several years ago cigarettes in Canada were $9.00 a pack which served as a significant economic incentive to stop smoking. The Canadian Non-Smokers' Rights Association currently calculates the average price of a carton of cigarettes at $91.62. Moser agreed with the use of economics to hinder smokers. She told the group that every 10 percent increase in the price of tobacco reduces smoking by 3 to 5 percent. The Smoke-Free event was coordinated by Fred Toval, Community Outreach Coordinator. Toval, President of the Mesquite Democrats, shared with the group how his father, a smoker, died in 1975 from heart thrombosis brought on by smoking. “In spite of my attempts to resuscitate him, his lungs were simply gone,” Toval told the group. Both Toval and Litman pointed out that Mesquite is a draw for those wishing to live in a clean air community. Both also mentioned that a smoke-filled atmosphere keeps them from spending much time in the casinos. “Everyone has the right to breath clean air,” Sarah Davis, Regional Program Coordinator for the American Lung Association in Nevada, told the group. Davis mentioned the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, especially to hospitality workers, adding that none of the circulation systems on the market today can remove the cancer-causing materials in cigarette smoke. Additional information about the grassroots effort to make Mesquite smoke-free can be found at http://www.smokefreemesquite.org/ or by contacting Fred Toval, Community Outreach Coordinator atftoval@lungnevada.org (801)574-5336.