Smoking Ban Politics: Bill Fizzles, But Initiative Sizzles
But with the session half over, supporters of a public smoking ban have all but given up on the Legislature and moved on to plan B: a November initiative.
They have raised $150,000 and have already hired signature-gatherers for Initiative 901, which would ban smoking in all public places - including restaurants, bars, nightclubs, bowling alleys and non-tribal casinos.
"We've built an army," said Marina Cofer-Wildsmith, spokeswoman for the American Lung Association of Washington. That army is busy gathering signatures on the streets, not lobbying legislators.
The initiative is stricter than either of the bills making their way through the Legislature. A House bill would ban smoking in all indoor, public places. A Senate bill would require more separation between smoking and nonsmoking areas, and would prohibit minors from entering smoking areas. Both measures survived Wednesday's deadline for making it out of committee, but many legislators believe the bills will fizzle out just as they did last year.
"I know it's supported by the majority of people in the state," said Rep. Eileen Cody, D-Seattle. "If we can't get it through the Legislature, then I think we'll see it on the ballot."
That seems like a safe bet, considering the resources I-901 already has at its disposal.
Last year, activists ran a smoking ban initiative, but they started only after the Legislature failed to act and they ran out of money and time. This year, they've started early, with support from powerful organizations. Of the $150,000 raised for I-901 so far, $146,000 was donated by the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association.
"It's night and day," said Dr. Chris Covert-Bowlds, a Bellingham family doctor who volunteered for the smoking ban initiative last year and is sponsoring this year's effort.
"This is the year. Washington state is ready for it," he said. In the Legislature, he said, "We just haven't gotten over letting tobacco companies control our public policy."
The successful fund-raising by I-901 supporters has initiative sponsor Tim Eyman drooling - especially when he saw the campaign office had paid $70 for water delivery.
"That's a pretty good sign there's a well-funded campaign. It's like, money is not a problem," Eyman said. His Initiative 900, to require performance audits of state and local government, had raised a respectable but not quite as impressive $55,000 through the end of January.
Money can't buy success at the polls - many rich initiatives have flamed out on Election Day. But a well-funded campaign can usually get on the ballot.
"It doesn't automatically guarantee success, but it sure does relieve a lot of pressure," Eyman said. He added he personally thinks I-901 is "beyond insane" in its smoking restrictions, but he thinks it will be a "slam dunk" at the polls.
Only 20 percent of Washington residents smoke.
Opponents of a statewide smoking ban are bracing for the onslaught and fearing the outcome. Linda Matson, a lobbyist who represents restaurants and casinos, said she wishes smoking ban proponents would have tried harder this year for a compromise in the Legislature.
"They are extremists and nothing is going to slow them down. Those people are completely unwilling to compromise," Matson said. "I'm not paid by the tobacco industry and neither is the Legislature. They can't get anywhere in the Legislature because they're not being reasonable - they only want it their way."