Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116633

Janet Williams, MA, Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, American Medical Association, 515 N. State, Chicago, IL 60610, 312-464-5073, janet.williams@ama-assn.org and Sean McDermott, Cook County Department of Public Health, 1010 Lake St., Suite 300, Oak Park, IL 60301.

The Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act was passed in 1990 and established basic standards for addressing smoking in indoor public places and workplaces. The tobacco industry lobbyists convinced state legislators to include preemptive language in the Illinois bill. But since there were 21 municipalities with local ordinances, the public health groups compromised and accepted the provision as long as the 21 communities were exempt and could strengthen their ordinances at any time in the future. Since that time, the public health community has tried unsuccessfully to remove the preemptive language from the Act. For the past two legislative sessions, the rhetoric has heated up with the hospitality groups playing a more vocal role in protecting the needs of the tobacco industry. This session will be a case study of how bills were filed in both chambers, support was secured, deals were made and then totally reversed when it came time for a vote. Participants will have the opportunity to compare this with their own experiences and strategize ways to counter this trend and bring it to the public's attention. Williams was instrumental in crafting the original language as a member of the American Lung Association, and McDermott played a major role in educating legislators on this issue and industry interference.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the tactics use by the industry to maintain the status quo in Illinois' Clean Indoor Air Law
• Develop counter arguments based on the Illinois experience
• Identify new allies to counter industry tactics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.