Markell's planned smoking ban elicits some grumblings

Charles Young, a 37-year smoker who quit seven months ago, doubts Gov. Jack Markell's planned ban on smoking outside state office buildings will have the desired effect of getting employees to kick the habit.

As with any form of prohibition, Young said, "they're going to do it anyway."

Still, the Division of Revenue employee recognizes the potential savings to taxpayers.

"I know since I quit, I'm more productive because I'm not out here smoking," said Young, who works in the Carvel State Building in downtown Wilmington, where dozens of workers huddle outside the entrances throughout the day to light up on their 15-minute breaks.

Markell is targeting their habit in his quest to slow the growing $1 billion annual health care bill for state workers, retirees and Medicaid recipients. Combined, they make up 40 percent of the state's population.

But the planned smoking ban, which can be implemented without a change in law, is already generating grumblings among state employees who smoke.

"If there's a designated area [to smoke], that would be fine,", Department of Justice employee Janea Righter said while smoking outside the Carvel building next to a sign instructing smokers to stay 25 feet away from the building. "I look forward to coming out for fresh air."

Several smokers interviewed this week outside the Carvel building declined to be publicly identified for fear of retribution. The smokers asked why they can't use the back of Freedom Plaza, a park area between the Carvel building and the Louis Redding City/County Building on French Street.

Markell doesn't plan to make life easier for tobacco-addicted state employees who routinely violate the 25-foot rule, especially when it's snowing or raining.

"The goal is actually to discourage smoking because smoking carries not just a physical cost to smokers but a fiscal cost to taxpayers," Markell spokesman Brian Selander said. "The goal of the governor's policy was not to simply move smoking out of doorways."

But employees like Righter say they'll just walk across French Street to Spencer Plaza to smoke. Most state workers get two 15-minute breaks plus a half-hour for lunch throughout their 7.5-hour work day.