Making Missouri's Capitol completely smoke free is both the honorable and healthy thing to do.
That's why we join with smoke-free advocates, both youth and adults, who gathered in the Rotunda on Thursday to urge the Legislature's Rules Committee to prohibit smoking throughout the building.
Both Jefferson City and the state of Missouri have smoke-free policies for public buildings, but the offices of individual state lawmakers are exempt. Although senators and Democratic members of the House have elected to observe the smoke-free policy in their offices, House Republicans have not.
This double-standard contributes to the public's unfavorable rating of elected officials.
More important are the health consequences of secondhand smoke in a building frequented by visitors, including students.
The health component was the focus of Thursday's call to action by members of Tobacco Free Missouri Youth and the Missouri Tobacco Control Research Center. They were joined by Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin and by Joy Sweeney, executive director of the local Council for Drug Free Youth.
Data cited by the smoke-free proponents include:
Secondhand smoke kills 1,375 Missourians annually.
Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their lung cancer risk by 20-30 percent and their risk of heart disease by 25-30 percent.
Secondhand smoke contains 7,000 chemicals including 250 known to be toxic and at least 69 known to cause cancer.
Among the advocates was Emily Thomeczek, a Jefferson City High School student and board member of Tobacco Free Missouri Youth. She told the gathering: "Seven out of eight states around ours have a smoke-free capitol building, but in our Capitol our representatives, their assistants and even visitors are at risk from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke."
The health of countless Missourians who spend time in their Capitol must not be compromised by self-serving lawmakers who exempt themselves from the rules that apply to others. They are merely temporary occupants of offices within a public facility.
We urge the Rules Committee to end this arrogant double-standard that continues to stain the public perception of the entire Legislature.