A state lawmaker who’s been pushing for a ban on smoking in public places is joking about his newborn son’s initial statement to the world. Representative Tyler Olson, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, is co-chair of a 10-member panel trying to find a compromise on the smoking issue, but Olson was gone at the end of last week to be with his wife as she gave birth to their son last Thursday.
"Most babies, you know, come out crying and screaming. He came out screaming: ‘No smoking!’ Olson says. "…It was kind of interesting, but the doctors loved it." Olson told the joke this morning to the other members of the Iowa House.
Olson did not distribute cigars to his colleagues to celebrate his son’s arrival. Olson brought in several dozen donuts to share instead.