Sen. Says Veterans Smoking Ban ‘Injustice’

COUER D’ALENE, Idaho – An Idaho state senator wants to allow smoking in the state’s homes for veterans, arguing that forcing former service men and women to go outside is an “injustice” that needs to be remedied.

Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, introduced the Idaho Senate’s first bill for the 2005 session Tuesday, asking the Legislature to allow residents of veterans homes to smoke in designated areas. Under an indoor smoking law passed in the 2004 session, all smoking in restaurants and public buildings was banned, and that included state veterans homes.

Studies have shown that Americans often take up smoking after joining one of the branches of the military. Air Force officials discovered that when civilians join the military, 28 percent smoke, and after one year of duty, about 41 percent are daily smokers.

If Goedde’s bill is successful, veterans will be able to smoke in designated smoking rooms inside the homes. He said the smoking rooms provide good ventilation for the veterans and make sure smoke doesn’t spread to other parts of the homes.

“It seemed like an injustice,” said Goedde. “The (veterans) have to go outside in 100-degree heat or below-freezing temperatures to smoke. That’s not right.”

Idaho has three veterans homes in Boise, Lewiston and Pocatello, which are managed buy the Idaho Division of Veterans Services.

The American Cancer Society does not oppose Goedde’s proposal.

When it supported the legislation last year, officials said they intended that state-owned veterans homes be afforded the same flexibility as other nursing homes in the state, which by law can allow designated smoking areas for their residents.

“We want to protect the non-smokers who are there and the workers and people coming to visit,” said spokesman Brad Hoaglun. “But at the same time there are certain areas where administrators need to have some flexibility.

“An 86-year-old veteran is probably not going to be quitting the habit,” Hoaglun said. “To have a separate room that’s ventilated and where nurses can keep an eye one them is probably the best way to go.”

The smoking issue was the top priority for all the veterans organizations in the state, said Pat Teague, acting division administrator for the Idaho Division of Veteran Services.

“I believe for most of our veterans in the stage of life they’re in, smoking is one of few pleasures left,” Teague said.

Some veterans advocates say that residents of the facilities are already approaching the end of life and shouldn’t be denied one of their few remaining joys in a comfortable environment.

“It’s not like smoking is going to kill them,” said Dusty Rhoads’, District 1 commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. “They are all on their last leg anyway.”

Goedde said this bill is just the first on his list of seven. The fact that it’s the first of the 2005 Legislature shouldn’t take on any additional significance, he said.

Goedde and other North Idaho lawmakers were behind an attempt last year to make an exemption to the smoking ban for restaurants that have bars.

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Information from: The Spokesman-Review