Let’s keep clean-air legislation intact

Maureen Blutman, Las Vegas

Tuesday, May 31, 2011 | 2:03 a.m.

Smoking is a dangerous and deadly pastime. As a former smoker, I have no moral qualms with those who choose to go down that road, but their rights stop at my nose, lungs and pocketbook.

I am tired of hearing a million excuses why smoking needs to happen in restaurants, bars and other places of business. I’ve visited other states that don’t grapple as much with reconciling public policy with common sense.

Assembly Bill 571 is sneaking through the Nevada Legislature and would roll back the voter-approved 2006 Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act. It sets up allowances for places that serve meals to also serve an (un)healthy dose of cancer-causing secondhand smoke.

I urge our lawmakers not to create a situation where we are rebuilding our economy in ways that will leave our state in the dust — and the smoke — in terms of places that people want to live, work and visit.