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Governor Parkinson responds to Greater KC Chamber’s support for public smoking ban
The following is a statement from Governor Mark Parkinson regarding the recent statement of support for a statewide public smoking ban by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce:
Date: 2/5/2010
Posted by Finney County Community Health Coalition on 3/3/2010
For immediate release
Beth Martino, Press Secretary
February 5, 2010
785.368.8500
Governor Parkinson responds to Greater KC Chamber’s support for public smoking ban
The following is a statement from Governor Mark Parkinson regarding the recent statement of support for a statewide public smoking ban by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce:
“Voters want a real smoking ban, health experts want a real smoking ban and with the endorsement of the Greater Kansas City Chamber, it’s clear that the business community wants a real smoking ban. This overwhelming support and increased attention makes this year the year for Kansas to join the majority of other states and ban smoking in public places.”
The entire statement from the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is the following: “The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce applauds Governor Mark Parkinson’s leadership in promoting a state-wide smoking ban in Kansas and thanks him for boldly tackling this key health care issue which costs businesses millions each year. The Chamber supports a statewide smoking ban to significantly decrease tobacco-related illnesses and death and to reduce the costs to business from tobacco.
“The Chamber and its Healthcare Council have invested significant time in studying the health effects of smoking as well as the financial burden caused by increased health care costs due to smoking. These key findings have influenced Greater Kansas City business support for a smoking ban:
· Studies indicate that 10-12 percent of today's health care costs are attributable to smoking-related conditions and diseases.—Kansas Health Policy Institute
· The Society of Actuaries has determined that second-hand smoke costs the United States economy $10 billion a year—$5 billion in exposure to illness and $4.6 billion in lost wages.
· The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates annual healthcare expenditures in Kansas directly caused by tobacco use are $927 million and that secondhand smoke exposure costs the state $38.9 million a year.
· The CDC also reports that smoking costs the U.S. economy $92 billion a year in lost productivity.
· Total annual health care expenditures for the State Medicaid program caused by tobacco use are estimated at $196 million.—Kansas Health Policy Authority
· Based on the health impact on cities that have enacted indoor smoking bans, a statewide ban in Kansas could result in 2,160 fewer heart attacks and $21 million less in associated hospital charges for heart attacks alone.—Kansas Health Policy Authority
“The Chamber believes smoking bans in public places have been successful in improving the financial and physical health of a community. The Chamber further believes a statewide smoking ban would level the playing field so that businesses in communities with local smoking bans are not competing with other jurisdictions that may have no ban in place. Chambers of Commerce throughout Colorado supported that state’s smoking ban based on this “level playing field” measure.
“The Chamber believes now is the time to put good healthcare measures and reduction of healthcare costs as a top priority and join 38 other states with a statewide smoking ban in Kansas.”
The statement can also be found at http://www.kcchamber.com/News/Pressrelease.asp?IdS=00E469-9CCFE20&RefItem=337&~=. For more information from the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, please contact Cathy Bennett, 816-374-5412, bennett@kcchamber.com. ##