Cooper says tobacco use, immigration two issues facing state

State Sen. Jerry Cooper says immigration, the minimum wage, and tobacco-related issues are just a few of the topics he expects the Tennessee General Assembly to wrangle with as a new session is under way.

?There?s a lot of talk in Congress right now about doing something with the minimum wage,? said Cooper. ?If they don?t do anything about raising it, I think we will.?

The U.S. House passed a bill on Wednesday that would raise the current $5.15 minimum wage to $5.85 effective 60 days after the measure becomes law. The minimum wage would go to $6.55 a year later, and $7.25 a year after that. While the bill passed the House by a wide margin, it figures to face a stiffer test in the U.S. Senate.

Cooper said a wide range of proposals are circulating about possible measures to crack down on illegal immigrants. He said there?s a growing sentiment among Tennesseans that illegal immigrants shouldn?t be able to live and work here so easily.

?There?s talk of really penalizing with heavy fines the employers who hire illegal immigrants,? said Cooper. He also indicated there?s talk of giving local police and sheriff?s departments broader powers to address this issue.

Tobacco use remains an intense issue because many non-smokers don?t want to be forced to breathe second-hand smoke, while many smokers believe it?s their right to smoke wherever they please.

?As more and more people realize the harm in second-hand smoke and realize the harm in smoking, this is becoming more and more of an issue,? said Cooper.

There has been talk of making restaurants declare they are either all-smoking or non-smoking, according to Cooper. He also said there is growing support for raising the tax on a pack of cigarettes.

?The cigarette tax is kind of like the lottery,? said Cooper. ?When I first got here, most people were against it. Now more people are for it.?