As mentioned here last week, Polk County District Court Judge Douglas Staskal made his ruling on the request to temporarily block Iowa’s new smoking ban on Monday.  The ruling left the door open for bar owners to to proceed with the case.  According to a story on the Des Moines Register web site:

Staskal found it “safe to conclude that the plaintiffs have at least a reasonable chance of succeeding on these claims because, on first impression, the exemptions appear to make the statute as a whole substantially under inclusive in relation to its stated purpose.”

Basically, the bar owners did not provide enough evidence that the law was causing irreperable harm:

Staskal’s 10-page ruling says complaints of lost business due to the smoking

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Bar owners got their first shot in court to get a stay ordered on the 2008 Iowa Smoking Ban.  Some bar owners say they are losing business, some preparing to shut down for good.  Although one admitted that gasoline prices and other economic issues may be impacting business as well, there should be no doubt that some patrons who enjoy smoking and drinking with their pals probably figure they can spend less buying their own six-pack and drink at home where they can at least smoke (as long they they don’t have a daycare business operating out of the home).

George Eichhorn, fresh off of a Republican primary loss for the honor of running against Democrat Tom Harkin, is representing the group members of the …

According a story at The Hill, Mike Huckabee has switched his position on smoking rules from Federal to State control.  Interestingly enough, Jeffrey Young at The Hill states that this is not only a change in position, but inconsistent with his record as Governor of Arkansas where he signed such legislation into law… I don’t see how that’s inconsistent with his record since he signed it into state law and that’s the level of control he’s now supporting.

The kind of law he signed in Arkansas seems like reasonable law since it is intended to protect the rights of others in enclosed areas.  In thinking about smoking bans (I am a former smoker)  I think we have to be careful not to try take …