A 8 S T A R T R I B U N E F R I D AY, F E B R U A R Y 1 1 , 2 0 1 1

Study suggests indoor smoking ban is effective

SMOKING FROM A1

The share of Minnesotans exposed to secondhand smoke has dropped sharply in many settings, especially since the state's 2007 indoor smoking ban.
70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

LESS SMOKY

At work

At home

Any location 67 57 45 9
2003 2007 2010
Star Tribune

Dayton vetoes GOP cuts, and now its game on

BUDGET FROM A1

Nonetheless, about 45 percent of respondents reported being exposed to secondhand smoke at some point in the previous week, down from 57 percent three years ago. More than 90 percent said they believe secondhand smoke is harmful. In a spirited debate before the passage of the 2007 law, many bar and restaurant owners argued that a smoking ban would hurt their business. But researchers said Thursday that a recent University of Minnesota study indicates the smoking ban hasnt caused economic harm. The study, which is conducted every three years, examined employment changes in bars and restaurants in the state between 2004 and

2008, the latest data available at the time, and found no sign that the smoking ban crimped hiring. Overall, the survey found that adult smoking in Minnesota continued a gradual decade-long decline in 2010, dropping from 22 percent in 1999 to 16.1 percent last year and leaving Minnesota well below the national average, 20 percent of adults. The survey also found: Young men with low incomes and little education are the most likely to smoke. In 2010, 21.8 percent of collegeaged adults were smokers. The number of heavy smokers (more than 25 cigarettes a day) has declined from 10.3 percent of smokers in 2007 to 6.3 percent in 2010. The use of smokeless tobacco products has increased,

Percent who say they were exposed to secondhand smoke in the previous seven days.

19

15

17

12

Source: Minnesota Department of Health

2003 2007 2010

2003 2007 2010

from 3.1 percent in 2007 to 4.3 percent in 2010. Kelly Michaels grew up in a smoky home and tried her first cigarette as a teenager with her sister. The habit lasted more than a decade, until she became engaged. Her fianc had a son who was roughly the same age she was when she started smoking. It dawned on me that this is my family, said Michaels, who now has a 6-year-old daughter. I never took another drag off a cigarette again.

Michaels hated the smell of smoke in her home, yet smoked there anyway until she quit. Her relatives knew right away to take their own cigarettes outside. I think everybody knows how hard it really is, said the 41-year-old from Bloomington. Once you try to quit, youre supportive of others.
Taryn Wobbema is a University of Minnesota journalism student on assignment for the Star Tribune. Jeremy Olson 612-673-7744

THIS IS THE FIRST [SURVEY] THAT CAPTURES THE EFFECTS OF THE FREEDOM TO BREATHE ACT. ITS VERY ENCOURAGING. Raymond Boyle, research director at ClearWay Minnesota

had spent much of the sessions first month saying that budget cuts and not tax increases were the best financial approach to reducing the shortfall. There is nothing to be gained, and much to be lost, by addressing, in this disjointed manner, the projected budget deficit, Dayton said in his veto message. The comment echoed his ongoing complaint that Republicans were rushing a piecemeal approach to solving the deficit into law. Republicans said the veto signaled that the gloves had come off. Game on. Here we go, said Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Edina, the Senates deputy majority leader. Were going to have a clash. And thats OK. We do not support more taxes. We do not support more spending, he added. Daytons veto was believed to be the earliest by a first-

term governor since World War II and contrasted with Wednesdays State of the State Address in which he called for ending the political polarization between Republicans and DFLers in tackling the deficit. The veto also drew comparisons to former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who had often used his veto powers to thwart DFLers during the time they held majorities in both the House and Senate. Pawlenty, who last year vetoed his first bill two weeks after the legislative session began, had set a modern-day one-year record with 34 vetoes in 2008. It needs to happen Earlier in the day, Senate Taxes Committee Chair Julianne Ortman urged Dayton simply not to sign the legislation if he did not favor it a move that would have allowed the proposal to become law automatically. I hope, governor, youll let this happen, said Ortman, RChanhassen. It needs to happen. Senate Republicans and DFLers in fact spent much of the afternoon attempting to interpret Daytons State of the State address of a day earlier: Republicans said his description of the states fiscal mess meant that he agreed lawmakers needed to act swiftly, while DFLers said Republicans were missing the governors plea to work together. Id like to know which State of the State speech Senator Ortman attended yesterday, said Sen. Scott Dibble, DFLMinneapolis. The Republicans plan aimed to force state agencies to cut $100 million by the end of June. But because of a separate attempt to also allow some tax breaks, the total amount to be cut this year was reduced to under $77 million. The bulk of the cuts just over $824 million would have come next year. Were not trying to poke the governor in the eye with it, said Sen. Claire Robling, R-Jordan, rejecting the notion that Republicans were trying to paint Dayton into a political corner. In passing the plan Thursday by 37 to 28, the Senate voted along political party lines. The House largely did the same in a 68-61 vote the day before. Though the plan did not propose a property tax increase, Dayton said that cuts in local government aid and reductions in property tax relief for renters would amount to a tax hike. DFLers argued that the cuts would have hit middle-income property-tax payers, cities that rely on state aid, renters and the disadvantaged hardest. Republicans countered that DFLers had voted for many of the cuts last year and that making any cuts, now or later, would be painful. Sharp remarks In his most pointed comments Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk, DFLCook, also said that a change to a program dealing with sustainable forests, which he suggested Republicans did not fully understand, would give a handful of large forestry corporations a $11 million windfall while social service programs were being sliced. I dont see a shared pain, said Sen. Barb Goodwin, DFLColumbia Heights. I dont see that were asking businesses to give something back. Some of the days bluntest remarks, however, came from some of the new Republican majoritys freshmen. Sen. David Brown, R-Becker, chided DFLers as being hypocritical after having been reluctant last year to start making budget cuts and instead fighting with Pawlenty. All of a sudden what the governor wants is important. I wish you had felt the same way in the past eight years that what the governor [Pawlenty] wanted was important, he said.
mkaszuba@startribune.com 651-2221673 rachel.stassen-berger@startribune.com 651-292-0164

EAST COAST RUG LIQUIDATION SALE!

For a Limited Time Only

RUG ANNEX

Due to the nationwide unfavorable business climate, many East Coast Oriental Rug Importers have been forced to close their doors or liquidate their inventories. The Rug Annex at American Rug Laundry has been designated to conduct this unusual sale event!

Choose from hundreds of handmade rugs in every shape or design.

A Few Examples:

4 x 6 Kazak
$2450 -

$395

7 x 10 Contemporary
$2450 - $395 $4450 - $795

8 x 10 Indo Bijar
$6250 - $895

5 x 7 Persian Hamadan
$2850 - $495

6 x 9 Agra

10 x 13 Persian Kashan
$8850 - $1495

Annex Sale Hours: Friday-Saturday:9-5 & Sunday:12-4

Special Rug Cleaning Coupon:

*Second rug of equal or lesser cleaning cost is serviced at no charge. Offer applies to pre-paid orders dropped off and picked up by customer. 25% Discount on cleaning applies for single rugs dropped off and picked up by customer. No other discounts apply

Cash and Carry Hours: M-F: 8-5, Sat: 8-1

www.americanruglaundry.com

EXPIRES FEB 28/11 AT 5PM

4222 E. Lake St, Minneapolis Call 612-721-3333 for pick up and delivery