Smoking bill in trouble

Publication Date: 2007-04-24

• Author:Tim Smith
• Publication:Greenville (SC) News

Final stop for legislation may be on the shelf

A bill that would ban smoking in restaurants statewide is all but dead this year after two senators placed objections on the legislation.

"It will probably kill it if they continue to object," said Sen. Larry Martin, a Pickens Republican who supports the bill and chairs the Senate Rules Committee.

Sen. Joel Lourie, a Columbia Democrat, and Sen. Robert Ford, a Charleston Democrat, placed their objections on the bill, which was passed last week by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Any legislation must pass at least one chamber this week for a good chance at passage this year because of legislative rules.