After emotional debate, House approves ban on smoking in bars

Publication Date: 2005-04-06

• Author:ROSS SNEYD
• Publication:Brattleboro (VT) Reformer

After a long afternoon of debating whether smoking should be banned in the state's bars and private clubs...

Ultimately, the bill won preliminary approval on an 81-48 vote, despite a series of parliamentary maneuvers by Republicans designed to derail the bill. The bill still must be considered by the Senate.

It was designed to end an exception in the state law banning smoking in most public places that allowed smoking in bars that get most of their revenues from the sale of liquor.

Private clubs, including such places as American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, also have been exempt. And that's what caused the strong and vocal opposition.