Kevin Fischer is an award-winning veteran broadcaster who has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for nearly three decades.
Kevin, who is a legislative aide to state Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, “INTERchange,” on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, in Franklin.
By now you’ve heard of Governor Doyle’s plot to save Wisconsin smokers. It includes taxing the living daylights out of smokers with a whopping 163% cigarette tax increase that would supposedly fund anti-tobacco programs. He also wants to ban smoking in all public places, including bars, restaurants, and bowling alleys.
(OK, let’s stop right here. Let’s not be naïve. Does anyone really think that the Governor wouldn’t in the blink of an eye take that cigarette tax money and use it for something else…..for instance, schools? This is a cash grab, folks. Democrats don’t care about smokers. Years ago, I heard kindly, old state Senate President Fred Risser, Democrat from Madison, say on the floor of the Senate that he wished people on welfare would smoke more cigarettes so they would die and the cost of taking care of them would be reduced. I know he said this. I had it on tape).
The proposed ban on smoking in public places is troublesome, a severe infringement on personal and property rights. Governor Doyle has no business telling any bar or restaurant owner that smoking must be prohibited in his/her establishment. That’s a decision for the market to make. If consumers really wanted a totally smoke-free world, every single bar and restaurant would ban lighting up.
Supposing Doyle is successful, and I don’t think he will be, then what next? Where would the next target be? It just might be your own house. Don’t laugh.
In Calabasas, California, you no longer can smoke in any public outdoor space. Now how stupid is that!!?? Not as ridiculous as what’s being discussed in a suburb near San Francisco. Officials in Belmont are seriously considering banning people from smoking in their own apartments and condos. Exceptions to the ban would be detached single-family houses and outdoor yards. That’s downright scary.
Apartments are private property. Owners are already free to implement their own no-smoking rules, as it should be. Big Brother shouldn’t stick his nose in.
It is not too far-fetched to believe the nannies would invade your very living room to decree that for your own good, you can’t smoke. What is this, Russia?
Liberals are skilled at working in increments. Today they ban smoking inside government buildings. Tomorrow they go after all public buildings, even your favorite pub and grill. And then, the coup de grace, the very house you call home.
Think they wouldn’t do it? Think it couldn’t happen here?
