Smoking ban bill to go before Senate

Publication Date: 2008-01-28

• Publication:WWBT NBC12 (Richmond, VA)

The proposed indoor smoking ban will be a hot topic in the General Assembly this week.

Gov. Tim Kaine is backing the ban, which covers indoor smoking in places like bars and restaurants. A similar smoking measure failed last year, but Kaine says the legislation now has a chance because of his prior successful efforts to restrict smoking, which included a smoking ban in all government buildings.

But passing the legislation could be tough considering the political support tobacco still retains. Richmond is, after all, home to Philip Morris' cigarette factory - the world's largest...

The bill came before the Senate Education and Health Committee last week. That committee is expected to make its full recommendations later today.