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Veterans exemptions to smoking ban rejected in committee

Posted February 20, 2008 10:00 pm

Meagan Sexton

Two pieces of legislation aimed at allowing veterans to be able to light up in private clubs such as VFW posts and American Legion halls went up in smoke Wednesday.

The House Environmental Health Committee struck down House bills 4333 and 4104 that would have created exemptions to Illinois' new law banning indoor smoking.

Not all veterans supported the proposal.

"I certainly believe veterans are entitled to a lot of things, but we're not entitled to victim status, and we should not be treated as such," said Jack Merkley, a Vietnam veteran and senior vice commander for VFW Post 11463 in Rochester. He testified against the legislation.

"Nor should we be entitled to assist our friends and neighbors to an early grave," Merkley said.

HB 4104, sponsored by Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, would have allowed smoking in private clubs, including Veterans of Foreign War posts, that were operating prior to Jan. 1 and where three-fifths of the members agreed to allow smoking. The committee voted 11-3 against the bill.

"I am a confirmed non-smoker. It is not my desire to repeal the Smoke Free Illinois Act in its entirety," Black said.

He said he decided to propose the bill after a World War II veteran asked him, "Why can't I go to the American Legion post or the VFW, and if I want to have a cigarette on a Saturday afternoon and a beer with my ever-diminishing band of brothers, why can't I do that?"

Black explained the new law to the veteran and said that he didn't think any exemptions would be granted.

HB 4333, sponsored by Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline, also would have allowed smoking in veterans' halls and clubs. It was struck down, 10-4.

Boland, a non-smoker, said he proposed his bill after hearing from constituents.

"Sometime after the smoking ban went into effect, I received many calls from my local VFWs and American Legions that this would really hurt them and that they were already seeing a loss in their revenue," Boland said. "I think the key thing here in my support of this bill is to keep these posts alive, to help them survive."

Merkley said he hopes the proposed legislation is not an attempt to exploit the current national concern for veterans' issues in order to get a preferential exemption.

"It's now a pleasure to enter one of these posts knowing that my food and drink will taste normal, my eyes won't sting or water up, and my clothes won't stink of secondhand smoke," Merkley said.

Meagan Sexton can be reached at (217) 782-6882.

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