State Status
Any Preemption
Pending Legislation
News Summary
Public smoking ban fizzles
Publication Date: 2008-12-19
- Author:CHRIS CHRISTOFF
- Publication:Detroit Free Press
There'll be no statewide ban on smoking in public places -- for now.
State lawmakers failed to reach agreement on a ban early this morning, leaving antismoking advocates bitterly disappointed and a new Legislature to grapple in 2009 with an issue that has wide public support.
The defeat left smoking ban proponents talking of a 2010 ballot proposal to accomplish it if lawmakers can't.
In a final, marathon lame duck session that began Thursday morning, the House and Senate could not overcome disagreements over whether to allow smoking in casinos and smoke shops.
It was a major fizzle among the passage of dozens of low-profile bills, as the Legislature wrapped up its 2007-08 session.
"It is a serious disappointment, it's another signal that Michigan doesn't quite get it, is not quite ready to step into the 21st Century," said Rep. Andy Meisner, D-Ferndale, a leading proponent for a smoking ban who acknowledged the issue was dead for this year.