Letter: Clean Air Act hurts Nevada’s businesses

Friday, Nov. 17, 2006 | 6:56 a.m.

Regarding Question 5 that passed, where are the federal judges, lobbyists and politicians to protect the rights of business owners in Nevada? Judges all over the country have clearly overturned or placed an injunction on voter initiatives that appeared to be inappropriate, unreasonable and unjust. In regards to the smoking initiative, the law should be repealed and rewritten to exclude bars, taverns and casino food areas.

Bars and taverns spent tens of thousands of dollars, if not hundreds of thousands for their businesses, but this harmful initiative forces the business to lose thousands of dollars in income and close their kitchens and food service and lay off employees. This argument of "it's for the kids" has been a dead horse for years. Kids should not be allowed in any bar or tavern in the first place. So how does that protect the kids?

Bars and taverns should be allowed to serve food, not be forced to close their kitchens and cease providing food for their customers. As an adult who goes to bars and taverns and drinks, smokes and gambles, I expect to be served food when I am hungry. If I can't get my food, why should I spend money in the establishment's slot machines? Answer: I won't.

The lawmakers should have done their jobs and passed laws regarding smoking and not leave it to organizations that have a specific agenda in mind.

Brad Evans, Las Vegas