State Status
No Preemption
News Summary
Battle for statewide smoking ban looming
Publication Date: 2010-02-25
- Author:Scott Rothschild
- Publication:Lawrence (KS) Journal-World
House could agree with Senate plan as early as today
A showdown over a proposed statewide ban on smoking in indoor public places, such as restaurants and bars, may occur today.
In the House, supporters of a ban are expected to make a motion to concur with a plan already approved by the Senate.
Both sides of the issue said Wednesday there is a majority in the House to OK the Senate-approved bill, which would send the measure to Gov. Mark Parkinson, who strongly favors a ban...
Landwehr has an alternative bill, but it has been blasted by health officials, who said it would have allowed indoor smoking for a nominal fee, and overturned stricter local ordinances, such as the one in Lawrence. Parkinson called that bill a "fraud."
On Wednesday, Landwehr called two meetings of a House-Senate conference committee, saying she wanted to try to craft a compromise. Both times, no senators showed up.