Blagojevich Signs Anti-Smoking/Tatoo Age Bill

Well, the Guvna signed a bill that will allow every IL community the right to ban smoking in restaurants and bars. Needless to say, it's a sensitive topic in CU. Champaign of Blogs fave local columnist, Seth Fein, and anti-smoking zealots in the CUSFA traded barbs publicly on this one for a few weeks in the Buzz this spring (Seth's take 1 & take 2, CUSFA take 1 & take 2). There's no consensus. I'd be willing to guess that the 50 or so local bars and their tax dollars will do some talking here, but who knows. I guess there are always beer gardens?

Blago also put a halt to any teen tattooing when he vetoed a bill that would have lowered the IL tattoo age to 18 from 21. However, the piercing age remains unchanged (?). I don't really understand why those 3 measley years make a damn bit of difference. The Guvna said, "As a parent, I don't want my daughters to rush to get tattoos on their 18th birthdays." Hmm, well thanks for playing the role of absentee father AND guvna for the state, Blago. See you at Gibson's.