There's some reason for Rep. Hugh Holliman, D-Davidson, to be optimistic about the chances for his bill to ban smoking in the state's restaurants and workplaces. Mark Johnson with the Capital Bureau of the Observer and the News & Observer reports that the N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association won't oppose the bill and, Johnson says in Dome, might even support the ban.
That's a big turnaround from the last general assembly, when the association's opposition was a big factor in the bill's failure in the House.
Here's Johnson's report:
The N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association will not oppose -- and could actively support -- a ban on smoking in restaurants and workplaces.
That position undermines potential opposition by legislators who argue that a ban could hurt the restaurant business.
Paul Stone, the association's president, said that 80 percent of the group's members in a recent poll said they want the organization to either actively support or at least not oppose the ban proposed in the legislature. That number changes, though, if lawmakers start carving out exceptions for private clubs or other types of businesses, creating what Stone called an unlevel playing field in competing for customers.
"If they turn around and put (an exception) in," Stone said, "we'll be in the same position as two years ago."
That was when the association, which represents 3,000 restaurants and hotels, initially backed a similar bill but dropped its support after exemptions were added for private clubs. The bill failed in the House by six votes.
And that's not all. Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling reports that all demographic groups support the smoking ban. Here's part of his analysis:
Currently being considered in the legislature is a bill that would ban smoking in restaurants and public places, with very few exemptions. Do you support a ban on smoking in public places?
Yes 64
No 31
Last week when we polled on the economic stimulus package in Congress we found the North Carolina electorate about as polarized along party lines on that issue as it could possibly be. That's not the case when it comes to the proposed smoking ban the General Assembly is considering, which is earning majority support across partisan and ideological lines.
68% of Democrats, 62% of Republicans, and 58% of independents support it. So do 72% of liberals, 65% of moderates, and 60% of conservatives.
A majority of every demographic group that PPP tracks expresses support for the ban. The lowest levels of support come from voters in the Triad (52%) and those in rural areas (57%).
