Lack Of Smoking Ban Highlights Larger Issue

The Wisconsin State Journal laments the lack of a statewide smoking ban, with progress towards its implementation stymied by partisan bickering and influential special interests.

It's an excellent point and well argued. We deserve better.

But this same disinterest in the public's health is evident in our state's unacceptable record in attaining good air quality outside, too.

A truly unholy, yet powerful alliance - - road-builders, legislative Republicans, the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state Department of Natural Resources, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and Governor Jim Doyle have all discounted the effect of smokestack or tailpipe emissions - - either by emphasizing highways over transit, or telling federal regulators that it's OK to have dirty air over the Badger State and in our lungs.

For much of the fall and winter, large portions of the state were under dirty air advisories and warnings, as smog, soot and other pollutants hung in the air and made it unhealthy, even dangerous for athletes, children, the elderly, or those with asthma to go outside.

Again, an unacceptable situation, but willfully made worse, then rationalized.

Industry and their apologists in government argued that federal air quality standards as coordinated by the Bush administration (!) are too stringent, or that economic development will suffer if anti-pollution efforts are mandated, or that balanced transportation in our state and particularly in our region around here is unneeded, or too expensive.

That's bunk: development in the effected counties, from Door to Kenosha, and in much of southeastern Wisconsin, will wither in the area if air quality puts companies' personnel at risk for asthma, lung ailments and heart disease.

And a transit-poor community is a turnoff to worldly CEO's and employees who are used to taking trains to the office, light-rail over the lunch hour, and living in housing near a rail station.

Milwaukee business leader, philanthropist and inventor Michael Cudahy has been arguing in favor of better transit in Milwaukee for years.

He said it again on April 2nd, too. You'd think one of these days, he'd be heard.

People will be dissuaded from vacationing here, let alone opening a business or choosing to remain in Wisconsin because there are healthier, more forward-looking cities and climes elsewhere.

Wisconsinites should have access to cleaner indoor air and less-polluted air outside, and that means more political leadership.

This should be a bi-partisan, cooperative no-brainer, with governments and the private sectors agreeing that public health and environmental protections inside and outside, too, are not negotiable.