Health News
- Governor Renews Call For Statewide Smoking Ban; Courier-journal Hammers On The Issue With A Series Of Articles
Pressure for passage a statewide smoking ban in the legislative session that begins Jan. 6 is increasing, with recent statements by Gov. Steve Beshear and a package of articles in Kentucky's largest newspaper. Bill Goodman and Gov. Steve BeshearBeshear...
- Tobacco Heritage Blocks Smoking Bans In Rural Kentucky
"A mural showing a tobacco harvest has been on display high in the second-floor rotunda of the Bourbon County Courthouse for than 100 years," Mary Meehan writes. (Herald-Leader photo) Bourbon County's strong tobacco heritage is the...
- Smoke Free Kentucky Coalition's Multi-city Tour Launches Push For Statewide Smoking Ban In 2013 Legislature
Backers of an effort to ban smoking in all public places in Kentucky took their message on the road this week in hopes of getting legislation passed in the 2013 General Assembly. The Smoke Free Kentucky Coalition swept through the state's largest...
- Senate Blows The Whistle On The Session, Leaving Medicaid At An Impasse; Beshear Says A Special Session Will Start Monday
By Al Cross Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues The state Senate is forcing an early end to the Kentucky General Assembly's regular session today, without fixing the budget gap in the Medicaid program for the poor and disabled. Even...
- Governor Undecided On Meds-for-meth Bill, Says Time Hasn't Come For State Smoking Ban, But May Back Nursing-home Legislation
By Al Cross Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues Gov. Steve Beshear says he hasn't made up his mind about the bill that would require prescriptions for decongestants used to make methamphetamine, but he sounds skeptical. And he doesn't...
Health News
Williams says he supports a statewide smoking ban
State Senate President David Williams expressed firm support for the proposed statewide smoking ban at the Kentucky Press Association's forum for gubernatorial candidates in Louisville Friday.
"Secondhand smoke is full of carcinogens, it's a health hazard to workers ... and it ought to be stopped, and now's the time to stop it," said Williams (standing in Courier-Journal photo). Williams endorsed a ban when Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear proposed increasing cigarette taxes in 2008, but some saw that as political gamesmanship while Williams sorted out his position on the tax; he eventually supported a bill raising tobacco and alcohol taxes. The issue arose when forum moderator Al Cross (seated in photo) asked candidates what they would do to improve Kentucky's poor health status and followed up by asking their positions on a smoking ban.
"Secondhand smoke is full of carcinogens, it's a health hazard to workers ... and it ought to be stopped, and now's the time to stop it," said Williams (standing in Courier-Journal photo). Williams endorsed a ban when Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear proposed increasing cigarette taxes in 2008, but some saw that as political gamesmanship while Williams sorted out his position on the tax; he eventually supported a bill raising tobacco and alcohol taxes. The issue arose when forum moderator Al Cross (seated in photo) asked candidates what they would do to improve Kentucky's poor health status and followed up by asking their positions on a smoking ban.Williams is running in the Republican gubernatorial primary against businessman Phil Moffett, who said the scientific findings about the health effects of secondhand smoke have been "overblown." He and independent candidate Gatewood Galbraith both said property owners shoould retain the right to decide smoking policies. For C-J political writer Joe Gerth's story on the forum, click here. For a live-blog account from Kenny Colston of cn|2 Politics, go here.
- Governor Renews Call For Statewide Smoking Ban; Courier-journal Hammers On The Issue With A Series Of Articles
Pressure for passage a statewide smoking ban in the legislative session that begins Jan. 6 is increasing, with recent statements by Gov. Steve Beshear and a package of articles in Kentucky's largest newspaper. Bill Goodman and Gov. Steve BeshearBeshear...
- Tobacco Heritage Blocks Smoking Bans In Rural Kentucky
"A mural showing a tobacco harvest has been on display high in the second-floor rotunda of the Bourbon County Courthouse for than 100 years," Mary Meehan writes. (Herald-Leader photo) Bourbon County's strong tobacco heritage is the...
- Smoke Free Kentucky Coalition's Multi-city Tour Launches Push For Statewide Smoking Ban In 2013 Legislature
Backers of an effort to ban smoking in all public places in Kentucky took their message on the road this week in hopes of getting legislation passed in the 2013 General Assembly. The Smoke Free Kentucky Coalition swept through the state's largest...
- Senate Blows The Whistle On The Session, Leaving Medicaid At An Impasse; Beshear Says A Special Session Will Start Monday
By Al Cross Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues The state Senate is forcing an early end to the Kentucky General Assembly's regular session today, without fixing the budget gap in the Medicaid program for the poor and disabled. Even...
- Governor Undecided On Meds-for-meth Bill, Says Time Hasn't Come For State Smoking Ban, But May Back Nursing-home Legislation
By Al Cross Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues Gov. Steve Beshear says he hasn't made up his mind about the bill that would require prescriptions for decongestants used to make methamphetamine, but he sounds skeptical. And he doesn't...