Legislative briefs

Publication Date: 2008-02-15

• Publication:Jackson Hole Star-Tribune, WY

Smoking ban bill fails in House

The House Thursday failed to endorse a statewide ban on smoking in public buildings.

House Bill 87, sponsored by Rep. Lori Millin, D-Cheyenne, would have prohibited smoking in all public buildings, including bars and restaurants.

Proponents of the bill waged an aggressive campaign to build support for the bill, including a rally in the capitol rotunda earlier this week.

Rep. Floyd Esquibel, D-Cheyenne, said he received more constituent correspondence on the bill than almost any other this year.

In the end, the bill did not receive the two-thirds vote needed to introduce legislation during a budget session. The final vote was 31-28 in favor of the bill, with one excused.