FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
John Schultz, Chair
Boone County Libertarian Party
1301 W. Colchester Road
Columbia, MO 65202
E-mail: chair@boone.lpmo.org
Website: http://boone.lpmo.org

Boone County Libertarians announce jeers and cheers for Columbia City
Council members after passage of smoking ban

Columbia, MO -- October 10, 2006 -- The Boone County Libertarian Party
(BCLP) is extremely disappointed that the Columbia City Council saw fit
to impose a smoking ban that will affect the livelihood of Columbia's
restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, and membership organizations.

The proposed ordinance changes from the Board of Health eliminated
smoking on all outdoor patios.  However, an amendment was made to allow
smoking on fifty percent of the area of outdoor patios.  With this
change, the City Council has tilted the playing field in favor of those
bars and restaurants that have a patio or the ability to build one.  It
is inherently unfair for government to pass laws that give one business
an advantage over another.

Mayor Darwin Hindman mentioned several times over the past week that
there would be winners and losers with the amended ordinance, but
enthusiastically supported the new law.  Bob Hutton lamented that he
hoped his vote would not cause a business to suffer financial harm, yet
still voted for it.  Chris Janku said during his re-election campaign
in March 2006 "I don't think I would vote in favor of it," but decided
to change that stance for some reason.

The BCLP congratulates Almeta Crayton, Laura Nauser, and Jim Loveless
for their principled stand on less-intrusive government.  By voting
against the proposed ordinance changes, these three exhibited the age-old
saying "That government is best which governs least."  The citizens of
Columbia would do well to elect more council members such as these three
in the future.  We also urge the business community to locate strong
candidates from their ranks to run for the City Council in April 2007 if
they wish to reverse this infringement on their private property rights.

Boone County Libertarian Party chairman John Schultz remarks "As a
non-smoker and father of two young boys, I prefer to patronize smoke-free
establishments.  However, I abhor that government has chosen to take away
the ability of a business owner to set their own smoking policy and attract
a smoking clientele if that is their choice.  We have seen that Columbia's
restaurants have been voluntarily going smoke-free, with approximately
two-thirds of establishments completely banning smoking or relegating it to
an outside patio, and more businesses are making the switch as time goes on."

The Boone County Libertarian Party is affiliated with the Missouri
Libertarian Party, one of three established political parties in
Missouri.

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