Survey: Statewide smoking ban has wide support

Publication Date: 2007-02-28

• Author:JoANNE YOUNG
• Publication:Lincoln Journal Star

A survey of voters from western Nebraska to the Missouri River boundary shows wide support for a proposed ban.

Only smoking voters gave the ban a thumbs down. And nearly a third of them said they favored not allowing smoking in most public places. A telephone survey by Public Opinion Strategies of 500 registered voters in Nebraska, released Tuesday, showed a majority questioned Feb. 14-15 strongly favored a smoke-free law in work places, public buildings, offices, restaurants and bars...

The Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act (LB395), modeled after Lincoln’s ordinance, would ban smoking statewide at worksites and other public places.

Senators spent two mornings earlier this month debating the bill before sponsors Joel Johnson of Kearney, Arnie Stuthman of Platte Center and Ray Aguilar of Grand Island called a timeout to look at what changes should be made to the bill before continuing.

Supporters had suggested earlier that debate might continue today, but it is not on the schedule and it is up to Speaker Mike Flood to put it back on the agenda.