Dollars and sense

Economics will be part of the pitch to voluntarily go smoke-free. On average it costs two to three times more to prepare a rental unit for a new tenant after a smoker moves out because of the increased costs of carpet replacement and re-painting, McFadden said.

ClearWay Minnesota, the state's independent nonprofit that administers $202 million of Minnesota's tobacco settlement funds, said the adoption of the smoking ban will mean refocusing some of its resources. Leaders foresee a shift from advocacy and lobbying efforts against secondhand smoke to helping ensure monitoring and compliance of the law, which took effect Oct. 1.

Anti-smoking advocates see other opportunities, including pushing for laws that restrict or prohibit smoking, largely at the local level. Norwood Young America, for example, has an ordinance that prohibits smoking in city parks during youth activities. The Three Rivers Park District, formerly Hennepin Parks, is discussing a proposal to make portions of the district tobacco-free.

Statewide ban wasn't the end

But with the enactment of the smoking ban, some of the usual funding partners are declaring at least a partial victory and have begun to deploy some of their resources elsewhere.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Minnesota, for instance, has allocated approximately $35 million from 2006-2008 toward tobacco prevention efforts, including about $14.5 million in 2007. But next year, at least partially because of the enactment of the smoking ban, Blue Cross expects to redirect a portion of its budget for nonsmoking efforts to a new anti-obesity campaign. It expects to reduce its anti-tobacco spending by about $4.5 million.

"We continue to adjust our budgets annually, based on our progress in each area, the opportunities, and judgments about what will be most effective," explained Blue Cross spokeswoman Karen Lyons.

As the debate continues, one thing that won't be discussed is an outright prohibition of smoking.

"That's no more likely to work than the alcohol prohibition was likely to work," said Weigum, of the Association of Nonsmokers. "It was a real failed strategy in the '30s and it's no more likely to succeed now."

U.S.-based tobacco company. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings, Inc.

The origins of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings, Inc. date to the establishment of Richard Joshua Reynolds's tobacco-plug factory in Winston, N.C., in 1875, producing plug tobacco (compressed cakes).

The Reynolds Tobacco Co. became a major manufacturer of tobacco products, notably Camel, Winston, and Salem cigarettes. After embarking on a program of diversification in the 1960s, the firm adopted the name R.J. Reynolds Industries, Inc., in 1970 and purchased Nabisco Brands in 1985. The new company, named RJR Nabisco in 1986, was acquired in 1989 by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) for $25 billion, the largest corporate transaction of its time. KKR divested its ownership in 1995. R.J. Reynolds returned to its primary business of tobacco marketing and merged with British-owned rival Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. in 2004 to create Reynolds American.

Smoking Ban Proposal for Wichita bars and restaurants

WICHITA, Kansas, November 20, 2007 - No more smoking in Wichita restaurants and bars if the Tobacco Free Wichita coalition gets its way. The big concern is over second hand smoke.

But some local bar owner are teaming up to stop the ban. They've collected approximately 2000 signatures. They plan to gather more to present to the city council next month. It is an informal petition but the bar owners, who recently formed the Right to Choose coalition, hope it will make an impact.

The two sides are at odds over the actual dangers of second hand smoke and the effect a ban would have on businesses.

"If they put it into effect,I guarantee, it will be less than 10 months and it will probably take the Loony Bin Comedy club out of Wichita," Mark Payne, Loony Bin Comedy Club general manager, said. "I believe it has that strong of an effect." He would like to see the issue go to a public vote.

Other business owners said the city shouldn't tell them what to do.

"Smoking is a right I have, just like they have a right to be non smokers," James Wear, "This is a public health issue," Claycomb said.

The city council has directed city staff to create a smoking ban ordinance. It will be sent to neighborhood advisory boards for public comment. But there's no word on how soon the city council could vote on this issue.