Smoke ban bill may not survive

Publication Date: 2006-03-01

• Author:April M. Washington
• Publication:Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)

The proposed statewide smoking ban appeared to be going up in smoke Tuesday.
That's because lawmakers can't agree on exemptions.

Some lawmakers argue that small, neighborhood bars should be exempt from the ban because they'll go out of business if customers can't come there to light up.

Others say smoking should still be allowed in VFW halls, because who's to tell a war veteran he hasn't earned the right to smoke where he wants?

Still others argue smoking must be allowed in bingo halls.
"People go to bingo halls to gamble, just like they go to casinos and racetracks," said Sen. Lois Tochtrop, D-Thornton. "Bingos also are run by nonprofits to support worthwhile projects around the community."

The Senate agreed with her, and on Tuesday added bingo halls to a growing list of places under the Senate version of the bill where smokers would still be allowed to puff, including casinos, racetracks and private clubs such as the VFW, Elks and Lions.

The vote was 21-14 for the clouded version of House Bill 1175, prompting its sponsor to threaten to kill the "watered down" version.