RUSHING THE SMOKING BAN, DEMOCRAT-STYLE

SOURCE: The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Madison - State Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee) has given the public barely 24 hours notice before holding a hearing on a bill to ban smoking that is suddenly racing through the Legislature.
The ban on smoking in workplaces, including restaurants and bars, stalled in recent years but is now on a fast track. The law requires public hearings to be announced at least 24 hours in advance, and often legislators announce them days or even weeks ahead of time. Erpenbach, who is chairman of the Senate Health Committee, posted a notice about the hearing on the smoking ban 24 hours and 35 minutes in advance. "Adhering to a 24-hour notice is absolutely ludicrous," said Peter Fox, executive director of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, noting that people from northern Wisconsin would have almost no chance of attending the forum.

* First of all, I am opposed to the smoking ban. Tobacco remains legal, and, after hearing all the wonderful things we can fund with the additional tobacco revenue, we should actually be encouraging its use (NOTE: Tongue-in-cheek saracasm there folks)
* Why rush this? As the article noted, most hearings have considerable lead time before they are held. What has happened that has led Mr. Erpenbach to try and fast-track this legislation? It simply appears that he has come down with mandatitis, an illness where the prevailing party (and it can be Republicans as well), believe they can do just about anything because the people have given them the power to do so. This is similar to what happened to the federal stimulus bill, which was passed before many, if any, of our lawmakers had a chance to read it.
* I find Mr. Fox's comments interesting, but disingenuous. I also find it ludicrous that the WNA has resisted legislation to allow cities to post notices on the Internet, despite the fact we are in the 21st century, therefore requiring municipalities to rack up large bills with local newspapers to meet archaic and outdated posting requirements, but that is an argument for another day.