Iowa Smoking Laws Have Bar Owners Puzzled Over Casino Pass

If there ever was a situation that accurately paints a picture of politics in the US, it is happening in Iowa. Politicians signed into a law a smoking ban a year ago that was put in place to protect workers against harmful second-hand smoke.

It is now a year later, and bar owners who have apparently lost business because of the ban, are puzzled about the motives of the lawmakers. Smoking became illegal in bars and restaurants, but casinos were exempt from the ban.

"I just still cannot understand how the state government felt that a smoking ban was needed to protect workers, but casino workers were not important enough to protect," said attendant Grace Blashkin, "obviously it was all about money."

Yes, indeed, it was all about money. The casinos in Iowa pump millions of dollars into the state budget. It is enough money to make politicians sell their morals to ensure that the checks from the casinos keep coming in.

There always is a double-standard when it comes to casinos. They operate on a different set of rules than other businesses. Their revenue flow is stronger than any union. Workers that take jobs in casinos should know going in that they will be working in a smoke-filled environment, and no matter how much they complain, the government will not listen.

Some people in Iowa that were against the smoking ban have adapted to life without smoking in bars. They now have changed their anger away from the ban, and towards making sure that all establishments are treated equal.

"It is not fair that casinos can allow the smoking and bars cannot," said observer Frank Hillman, "If they are not going to drop the ban, and they are not, then at least they should expand it to include casinos."

That is the vision being expressed by many tax paying citizens in Iowa. Now it is up to the politicians to flow through for the people they represent.

July 5, 2009
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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