Smoking rules

It's surprising and disappointing that Gov. Mary Fallin has delayed action on an initiative petition to tighten state smoking regulations.
In February, a Senate committee effectively killed a Fallin-backed bill until 2015 that would have allowed local governments to pass smoking ordinances that are stricter than state law.

The governor jumped out front, held a press conference with a big crowd of health officials and said she would lead a campaign to take the issue to the people.

The vast majority of Okla- homans want local government control on smoking regulation, Fallin said. She was right.

While the governor didn't say the initiative she would push would be for local control, everyone assumed that would be the idea.

Since then, not much has happened. Fallin now says that such a proposal would stand a better chance after the 2014 general election.

We're not sure we see the political logic of that choice.

We are sure that delays will mean some nonsmok- ers will continue to work in second-hand smoke environments longer.

Second-hand smoke is deadly, and only a handful of states don't allow local governments to restrict it.

Anytime smoking regulation is the topic, suspicions quickly arise about the influence of Big Tobacco money, but we don't doubt Fallin's personal commitment on this issue —both of her parents were smokers and the habit affected their decline and death.

Putting off the initiative campaign could give the Legislature another shot at the issue. Our hope is that this important issue can be dealt with as soon as possible. The health of Oklahoma citizens is at stake.