Fort Wayne Smoking Ban, another step backwards

The Fort Wayne smoking ban will be voted into law next Tuesday. The initial vote, held last night was 7 in favor of, 1 against, and 1 abstention.

Tom Didier, Republican, was the sole vote against the measure.

Glenn Hines, Democrat, was the sole abstention.

This is another GREAT example of how both the Democratic and Republican Parties favor larger government and more regulation. Both parties seem to think that government regulation is needed in almost every aspect of our lives.

This smoking ban is a "property rights" issue for me.

I think that each business owner pays the taxes on his or her business, complies with thousands of pages of regulations created by politicians, and that this gives them the right to make some decisions on their own.

As far as I am concerned the only law we should have in place regarding smoking in private businesses is that each business owner should be required to post his or her smoking policy prominently on the front door. This would allow each patron to make their own decision regarding whether they wish to patronize said establishment...

I would like to point out that FOUR big government Republicans voted in favor of this restrictive smoking ban in Fort Wayne.

I would like to point out that THREE big government Democrats voted in favor of this restrictive smoking ban in Fort Wayne.

The next time ANY City Councilman except Tom Didier tells you that they are a "defender of small business" PLEASE laugh in their face.

Mike Sylvester