(Created: Wednesday, June 6, 2007 9:43 PM CDT)

To the editor:

As practicing physicians in the city of Eagan, we would like to commend elected leaders from our community and throughout Minnesota for their support of the Freedom to Breathe Act.

This legislation is undoubtedly one of the most important pieces of public policy developed in recent history, taking as its basis long-term scientific research, a majority opinion of constituents, and thoughtful bi-partisan support of a majority of our legislators, including the governor. Using the U.S. Surgeon General's research report on the health risks of secondhand smoke as a fundamental premise - that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke indoors and that nonsmoking sections and ventilation systems are ineffective in mitigating risk - the new law has as its core tenant the protection of the health of all our citizens.

Thank you, Reps. Masin and Wardlow, Sen. Carlson and Gov. Pawlenty for your support of the Freedom to Breathe Act, allowing Minnesota to join 19 other states in recognizing the health benefits to everyone by going smoke-free.

Michael Gonzalez-Campoy, Ronnell Hansen, Charles Crutchfield III and Stuart Cox

Eagan physicians

Julie L. Johnson
Project Coordinator
Dakota County Smoke-Free Communities Partnership
(651) 789-0036 ph
(651) 789-0038 fax
3440 O’Leary Lane, Suite 102
Eagan, MN 55123
www.smokefreedakota.org