Doyle pushes statewide smoking ban

Publication Date: 2007-05-25

• Author:REID MAGNEY
• Publication:LaCrosse Tribune

Wisconsin soon will be something of an island when it comes to smoking law, and Gov. Jim Doyle doesn’t want the state left behind.

With bans in place or imminent in Minnesota and Illinois, “It’s time for us to step over the line and do the right thing,� Doyle said Thursday during a visit to La Crosse. “I ask that the Legislature take swift action on smoke-free legislation for the citizens of Wisconsin.�...

A bill to ban workplace smoking, including bars and restaurants, has been introduced in the Wisconsin Senate, with a hearing scheduled for next week...

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, recently signed a statewide smoking ban, which goes into effect Oct. 1, and Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, is expected to sign a similar bill that has passed the Illinois General Assembly.