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--> --> Is Oregon going up in smoke? It's odd how some Oregon legislators can perform philosophical flops that would baffle a trained porpoise. The same politicos who insist on local control over state regulations are ramming a trio of bills through the House that would establish state control over tobacco regulations - wresting the authority from local communities. HB3953 preempts future tobacco ordinances while at the same time repeals provisions of the Clean Indoor Air Act which would certainly have the effect of opening every single ordinance now on the books to legal challenges. This bill already passed the House, 35-24. HB3874 prohibits advocacy on anti-smoking ordinances at the local level. Despite its apparent unconstitutionality, it passed the House, 37-23. HB3542 requires the Oregon Health Department to pass all tobacco prevention and educations funds directly to county governments without using any for a statewide tobacco prevention campaign. All K-12 prevention campaigns would go up in smoke. The voting on the first two bills came down along party lines, with Republicans holding the majority. These are the same legislators who insist on keeping state government out of local affairs. Rep. Alan Bates, D-Eagle Point, voted against both bills, and is startled at the partisan response. "It's absolutely hypocritical," he told The Tidings Wednesday. "These are the legislators that want state government to leave these kinds of issues to local governments. But they know that local (tobacco) ordinances are the No. 1 method of prevention. Better than anything even a doctor can do." And he is one. The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta confirms Bates' statement, having conducted research verifying local ordinances to be the No. 1 preventive method of tobacco use. So what's up with these guys? It's simple. Follow the money. The bills are being promoted by the Oregon Restaurant Association. Bill Perry, lobbyist for the association, has testified on each of these bills and has been active in getting them passed. The ORA has also hired another lobbyist, Mark Nelson, who also represents R.J. Reynolds tobacco. Due to having its hands tied by the tobacco settlement, Big Tobacco is restricted from doing anything that involves youth access to its product. That includes influences over state and local ordinances. But through the ORA, they are very active indeed. Legislators who voted for the first ORA-tobacco industry bill received $124,231 last year from the tobacco political action committee. Legislators who went the other way picked up $13,540. The tobacco and restaurant contributions are easy to track, legislator by legislator. The Web site is Money in Politics at: www.oregonfollowthemoney.org The bottom line is Oregonians have spoken on the subject. They want tobacco settlement money to be spent on statewide tobacco prevention, and they want the ability to enact smoking ordinances at the local level. Hopefully, Bates is correct when he says "Even if these bills get through I'm certain the governor will veto them. They won't live." But if somehow there are enough votes to override, these bills will become poster children for campaign finance reform. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing