House votes to ban smoking Statewide
Bill to clear air at work faces Senate fight
BY CHRIS CHRISTOFF
LANSING -- An outright ban on smoking in workplaces -- restaurants and bars included -- was approved by the House on Wednesday, giving anti-smoking activists their biggest victory in the Capitol so far.
Smoking would still be allowed in casinos, cigar bars, horse racetracks and bingo halls, under the legislation.
The bill faces opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate, where restaurant owners and other opponents are certain to try to kill it.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm has said she would support a workplace smoking ban.
The 56-46 House vote was the result of months of hearings and lobbying by anti-smoking groups who argued that second-hand smoke is a health hazard.
Restaurant and bar owners argued that many already choose to be smoke-free, but it should be up to establishments and their customers.
Andy Deloney, Michigan Restaurant Association director of Public Affairs, said, "The MRA continues to support the ability of its members to make this decision for themselves."
The association opposes the smoking ban and, Deloney said, organization officials were "disappointed, but not shocked" by the House vote.
"Telling a restaurant owner what they can or cannot do is an infringement of property rights," said Rep. Fulton Sheen, R-Plainwell.
The smoking ban's main sponsor, Rep. Brenda Clack, D-Flint, said 32 other states have banned smoking in the workplace. She said Ohio restaurants saw business eventually increase after that state banned smoking.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071206/NEWS06/712060416/1008
BY CHRIS CHRISTOFF
LANSING -- An outright ban on smoking in workplaces -- restaurants and bars included -- was approved by the House on Wednesday, giving anti-smoking activists their biggest victory in the Capitol so far.
Smoking would still be allowed in casinos, cigar bars, horse racetracks and bingo halls, under the legislation.
The bill faces opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate, where restaurant owners and other opponents are certain to try to kill it.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm has said she would support a workplace smoking ban.
The 56-46 House vote was the result of months of hearings and lobbying by anti-smoking groups who argued that second-hand smoke is a health hazard.
Restaurant and bar owners argued that many already choose to be smoke-free, but it should be up to establishments and their customers.
Andy Deloney, Michigan Restaurant Association director of Public Affairs, said, "The MRA continues to support the ability of its members to make this decision for themselves."
The association opposes the smoking ban and, Deloney said, organization officials were "disappointed, but not shocked" by the House vote.
"Telling a restaurant owner what they can or cannot do is an infringement of property rights," said Rep. Fulton Sheen, R-Plainwell.
The smoking ban's main sponsor, Rep. Brenda Clack, D-Flint, said 32 other states have banned smoking in the workplace. She said Ohio restaurants saw business eventually increase after that state banned smoking.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071206/NEWS06/712060416/1008
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