The guy pictured above with the Affliction shirt and velvet sports jacket is not some dork trying to fit in at Rok Bar or Twin Peaks on a Friday Night. It's actually State Senator Rob Johnson (R - Yukon). Since 2006, he's received nearly $12,000 from tobacco lobbyists. That's more than any other Oklahoma elected official. Knowing that, it shouldn't be surprising to learn that Senator Smokey helped kill legislation that would have given Oklahoma cities and towns the right to enact their own anti-tobacco laws.
Via the Tulsa World:
A Senate panel killed a bill Monday that would allow cities and towns to pass ordinances more stringent than state laws governing tobacco use.
Opponents of Senate Bill 36 said they were reluctant to tell local businesses what they could and could not do.
"This is not about local control," said Sen. Rob Johnson, R-Yukon. "It is about infringing on business people's rights."
First of all, let me clarify two things:
1. Yes, this legislation could have possibly infringed on business people's rights to allow toxic, cancer-causing smoke to be inhaled and consumed on their premises. Crazy, huh? Hopefully Senator Johnson can protect us from over-reaching asbestos regulations, too.