(Senator Raymond Basham, a longtime Taylor resident, was elected to the State House of Representatives in 1997, and elected to the State Senate in 2002. He serves Michigan's 8th District, and is a passionate advocate for the environment and public education. Welcome Senator Basham! - promoted by wizardkitten)
 Smoking used to be everywhere. Movies on the silver screen were seen through a smokescreen, with patrons puffing away. Airline stewardesses demonstrated the proper use of oxygen masks just as the Captain flipped on the smoking sign. White-coated doctors warned patients of unhealthy habits in between drags off their cigarettes. And right here in Lansing, on the floor of the Legislature, my predecessors were actively inhaling and ashing amidst the open political debate that has unfortunately gone on hiatus for most of this summer.
It's laughable now, but people viewed it as common practice at the time, just as people view smoking in workplaces, restaurants, and bars today. But times change, especially as our understanding and appreciation for health concerns increases, and this issue isn't any different. Thirty-one states and countless countries have already changed that culture, putting the health of their citizens first and foremost.
Michigan is significantly lagging behind, and if we don't change our smoking policy and culture, we'll soon be the butt of the jokes. Workplaces, restaurants and bars are going smokefree from California to New York, and we're in a race with Indiana for last place in the Great Lakes Region, including Ontario, to take action on smokefree legislation.
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