Nothing to see here but smoke

So it was a busy October, with all the football-watching, pumpkin-spicing and local electioneering. Maybe you missed the Legislature's 'Gambling Casino Restricted License Study Committee.” Catchy title.

It met a couple of weeks ago. It was a consolation prize for Cedar Rapids-area lawmakers who tried and failed to convince legislators to prod the Racing and Gaming Commission into licensing a smoke-free casino here. When lawmakers don't feel much like doing, they study.

What did it accomplish? Not a lot. The prospects for a casino here remain dim. The Racing and Gaming Commission is intent on protecting its casino cartel from new competition. The Legislature is addicted to gambling bucks and is reluctant to do anything that might ruffle the feathers of its golden goose.

Giving Cedar Rapids a casino would ruffle many feathers, as would any attempt to close the cartel's hard-won loophole in Iowa's Smokefree Air Act. Yes, you can still puff away on the gaming floor of every casino in Iowa.

But the catchy committee did show us how little the Racing and Gaming Commission seems to think about the health of casino employees. Consider this exchange between Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt, D-Cedar Rapids, and Brian Ohorilko, administrator of the commission, as reported by Iowa Public Radio:

'Is smoking and secondhand smoke a safety issue?” Running-Marquardt asked.

'I don't think we have the answer to that,” Ohorilko replied. 'It depends on who you ask.”

'It's been determined,” Running-Marquardt replied. 'Scientists and health experts have determined that secondhand smoke is a safety concern.

'Why don't they consider it a safety issue?” she persists.

'I'm not trying to dodge your question, Representative,” Ohorilko said.' It's not something that's been asked of the commission.”

So, basically, since the commission has never been presented with a license application for a smoke-free casino, it's never had to address the issue. And the cartel, which insists it would lose big bucks if smoking were banned, doesn't want to address it.

Neither did a majority of study committee members. According to a summary of the meeting prepared by the Legislative Services Agency, a motion was made recommending the Racing and Gaming Commission study the effects of secondhand smoke on patrons and employees. The recommendation failed, according to the summary.

That's after the committee heard a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees representing Prairie Meadows casino workers and a Division of Criminal Investigation agent who works in casinos each testify that vast ventilation systems meant to suck out smoke don't work.

Smoke or don't smoke, I don't care. Nor do I lose any sleep over Cedar Rapids not getting a casino.

What bothers me is the Legislature gave a dubious special favor to a single industry, and now, neither it nor the Racing and Gaming Commission want to know the consequences of that misguided action. Heads? Sand? Check. Check.

Instead, we get a smoke screen. Smells like big money.

l Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@thegazette.com