Cycling icon and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong rallied more than 1,000 supporters of a statewide smoking ban at a Citizens for Smoke Free Air Rally"" at the Monona Terrace Tuesday.
Armstrong joined Gov. Jim Doyle in urging the Wisconsin legislature to pass the Breathe Free Wisconsin Act, which prohibits smoking in all public workplaces, including bars and restaurants.
""The scientific evidence behind secondhand smoke is clear: it does kill, it does endanger other people's lives, and so therefore it's not an issue of basic rights, it's an issue of morals and ethics and standards,"" Armstrong said.
After ending his cycling career, the seven-time Tour de France champion became an advocate in the fight against cancer. He has traveled the country promoting smoking bans, which 23 states have passed.
Gov. Doyle said Wisconsin residents should not have their health endangered when they go to work or eat out.
Although the bill has stalled in both the House and Senate, Doyle said he is confident the smoking ban's strong bipartisan and public support would help it pass.
""Cancer doesn't care if you're Republican or Democrat, black or white,"" Armstrong said.
Opponents of the legislation argue that a smoking ban would hurt small businesses like bars and restaurants and infringe on the rights of citizens. The bill has met stiff resistance from the Tavern League of Wisconsin.
Jerri Allen, CEO of the American Cancer Society's Midwest Division, said the ban is not about rights or economics but about saving lives.
""8,000 lives will be lost this year if we fail to pass this law,"" Allen said.
""We cannot sit back and allow Wisconsin to become the ashtray of the Midwest.""
