Ehlmann May Seize 'Teachable Moment;' Now He's Mum on Veto for Smoking Ban Ballot Issue
The county executive says he will decide in 10 days whether he will veto the measure. A veto likely would kill the bill passed by council.
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The St. Charles County Council voted 4-2 Tuesday to allow voters to decide whether they would ban smoking in all public buildings, including bars and restaurants.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean the issue will make it to the voters.
County Executive Steve Ehlmann still could veto the bill, would make it unlikely to pass.
“This is a teachable moment,” said Ehlmann, according to a news release Wednesday. ““I am not a mayor. We’re a different branch of government. I did not have a vote on this, and have not had a say on it. I’ve pretty much kept my mouth shut and listened.”
Ehlmann did not immediately return a call from Patch.com Wednesday. He has 10 days to veto or sign the bill. If he does neither, the bill is automatically approved.
To override Ehlmann’s veto, the council would need at least five votes in favor of the smoking ban ballot issue.
However, barring any changes of heart, the bill seems to have support from just four council members: Joe Cronin, R-District 1, of St. Paul; Nancy Matheny, R-District 3, of Weldon Spring; Terry Hollander, R-District 5, of St. Charles; and John White, R-District 7, of unincorporated St. Charles County.
Opposing the bill are council members Joe Brazil, R-District 2, of Defiance; Paul Wynn, R-District 4, of O’Fallon; and Jerry Daugherty, D-District 6, of Portage de Sioux.
Daugherty said he does not object to a smoking ban, but will not support a bill that provides an exemption for a casino. The bill would exempt St. Charles County only casino, Ameristar, unless casinos in the city of St. Louis and the counties of St. Louis, Jefferson, Madison (Ill.) and St. Clair (Ill.) do not have exemptions.
Wynn was absent, so he did not vote on the bill Tuesday. However, he has steadfastly opposed the bill because he believes it violates property owner rights.
During Tuesday's debate at the council meeting, Cronin said that by passing the bill the council could craft the bill itself. Cronin drafted the bill.
"If there's a petition drive for a charter amendment, we're stuck with whatever we get," Cronin said.
Bonnie King
6:36 pm on Wednesday, June 1, 2011
I say leave smoking just the way it is and do something about the number one killer ALCOHOL.
Sue Solomon
8:23 pm on Wednesday, June 1, 2011
I think it should b up to the business owners whether or not to allow smoking or ban it. What's happaying with this government? It's getting to the pont that the government tells us what we can and can not do? What happened to rights?
AC Dienoff
10:38 pm on Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Mr. Elhmann
Do the right thing and take the correct action and sign the County Smoke-Free Clean Indoor Air Act Ordinance into Law, setting the Tuesday, November 6th, 2011 General Election. Do what is right and do NOT make this into a political power issue or fight. The will of the people must prevail with a Public Vote in the privacy of the Ballot Box. The 180,000 Registered County Voters have spoken VERY clearly and VERY loud that we want to have the right and choice in voting in a Public Election. DO NOT take this inherent right and obligation away from us! Allow us to have a VOTE on the issue for Public Health. Mr. Elhmann do what is right and just and sign the Ordinance into Law as the County Executive.
BillHannegan
1:29 am on Thursday, June 2, 2011
Check out this moral and economic argument in favor of a veto of the St. Charles County smoking ban just posted by Carl Bearden:
"The good news is this is just round 1. County Executive Steve Ehlmann is now the man on the hot seat. He can, and should, veto the bill if for no other reason than the constitutionally questionable special casino exemption that you and I will have to pay to defend.
In reality, he should veto the bill not only because of the questionable constitutionality but because it is an attack on personal freedom, represents an expansion of government intrusion on our liberties and it’s just the right thing to do!"
http://www.unitedformissouri.org/statewide/st-charles-county-big-government
Sandy K
6:24 pm on Thursday, June 2, 2011
Mr. Elhmann, please pass the County Smoking-Free Clean Indoor Air Act Ordinance into Law. Protect the children and people with health issues who are forced to breath unclean air. Yes, little children whose parents take them to places that allow smoking have no choice. Those of us that have breathing problems when around second hand smoke would like to freedom to go to any restaurant and be smoke free. If I can't go to a bar I don't care. I don't really drink anyway. Casino's shouldn't be exempt. It would be nice to be able to listen to music in a smoke free area. Smoker feel we are taking away their freedom. They have a right to breath clean air. They just choose not to. Those of us affected and children have a right t clean air, yet we can't get it. It finds us in our car with the windows up, in the parks, or outside a building we are going in. When are we going to have our right to be upheld? Please sign it!
Elizabeth
10:51 am on Monday, June 6, 2011
You already HAVE that right. You CHOOSE not to exercise it every time you go onto PRIVATE PROPERTY where smoking is allowed. If you don't want to be around smoke, don't patronize an establishment that allows smoking. It is that simple. Public places are non-smoking already. Hospitals, schools, airplanes, government buildings. PLUS, a huge percentage of private property is non-smoking too. Just because some place is OPEN to the public, doesn't make it a PUBLIC place. You have every right to exercise your right to not be around smoking without taking someone else's right to choose to be around it. There is no place in the county of St. Charles where you are forced to be around smoking. If you are around smoke it is because you are choosing to be! Wake up and exercise your own rights and leave mine alone!
Bob
2:15 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
99 perceent of the voters never go to small neighborhood bars or belong to veterans clubs.