State smoking ban gets a boost; tourism groups join effort to end habit at all workplaces

Publication Date: 2007-04-19

• Author:Ben Jones
• Publication:Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent

The effort to enact a statewide smoking ban got a major boost Wednesday as organizations representing the state's influential tourism industry signed on as supporters.

"It's very big news," said Maureen Busalacchi, executive director for Smoke Free Wisconsin, a group that backs the ban. "We have not seen this strong of a coalition on the business side of this issue, I don't think, across the country."

Lawmakers introduced a bill Wednesday that would create a statewide ban on smoking in workplaces, including restaurants and taverns. The bill would make the strict policies already in effect in Appleton and Madison the law statewide.