State Status
Any Preemption
Pending Legislation
News Summary
Michigan House Speaker has end-of-session goals
Publication Date: 2009-12-05
- Author:Mark Hornbeck
- Publication:Detroit News
Dillon seeks to ease school aid cuts, ban workplace tobacco before session ends
Finding money to soften school aid cuts, enacting education reforms to lure federal dollars and finally passing a workplace smoking ban are the top items on House Speaker Andy Dillon's to-do list before the end of the year...
Finally, the speaker said he's hopeful the Legislature can pass a public smoking prohibition this month, breaking a long-standing impasse.
The Senate has insisted on an across-the-board ban while the House has made exceptions for the three Detroit casinos. One proposal in the Senate is a compromise bill that would bar smoking on half the casino floor and in casino hotels and restaurants. Dillon said that plan has some promise.
Marsden said if the smoking ban comes up next week in the Senate, as some predict, "I expect the majority leader will stay consistent on it -- a full ban."