To say I was disappointed the Texas State Legislature recently removed the Crownover amendment from the spending bill (SB 1811), which would have made Texas a smoke-free state, saving thousands of lives and millions of dollars while joining 29 other U.S. states in the public health effort, is an understatement. Senator Bob Deuell (R-Greenville), who is also a physician, opposed the bill saying the ban infringed on personal rights. Yeah, well so does heart disease and cancer.

With survey results indicating more than 70% of Texas voters favor a smoke-free state, I wonder whose rights Senator Deuell and the other smoke-free Texas opponents are really working for. Numerous organizations and individuals worked to advance the Smoke-Free Texas legislation, and today serves as a reminder that our work for the next legislative session (January 2013) begins now.

Onward!