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Written by Beak 'n Eye Staff
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Friday, 16 February 2007
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SWEET – A recently proposed increase in the tobacco tax will increase funds for health care. The current tax is 36 cents, and if the raise is approved, will become $1.36. The additional tax money would add $130 million to state revenue. Having to pay an extra dollar will help smoking go down a bit, and the extra revenue will also help fund a number of invaluable health programs.
SOUR – The Fair Share bill was recently introduced to the Iowa House and Senate. If passed, it would allow union shops to collect dues from all workers, even non-union members. There is nothing fair about forcing workers to fund an organization they are not a part of and ignoring the Right to Work laws. Workers can fund and benefit from any organization they want, so making it a requirement isn’t right. Allowing those that live in Iowa to choose whether or not to support an organization is fair.
SOUR – A bill allowing medical research on stem cell cloning in Iowa was narrowly passed with a 26-24 vote. Research on human cloning may open the door to full human cloning and the dangerous effects it could bring, such as a black market for cloned humans or cloned human parts. Let’s hope researchers focus on ways to help reverse diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and to regenerate nerves and tissues.
SWEET – Iowa may become the first major public university to go smoke-free. As of now, students must be at least 25 feet away from building doorways. In April, the hospital and medical college along with some other buildings in the cluster will become smoke free. By July, employee groups want to see smoking banned in a 25 foot radius around all buildings, including the stadium and parking ramps. Students who do not smoke or wish to be exposed to secondhand smoke should not have to be constantly breathing in those dangerous chemicals.
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