Smoking ban advocates try to win over lawmakers

Publication Date: 2011-04-26

• Author:Kelley Shannon
• Publication:Dallas Morning News

With time ticking away in the legislative session, advocates for a ban on smoking in the workplace are bringing in big names to make their case to lawmakers.

High-ranking representatives of major non-profit health associations visited the Capitol on Tuesday to urge legislators to support a House bill by Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, and a Senate bill by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston.

The proposals would ban smoking in workplaces and many public places. Each has won committee approval. Now they're waiting for votes in the full House and Senate chambers, where support isn't certain.

Meeting with legislators were Mike Dany, chief executive of the American Cancer Society High Plains Division; Danny McGoldrick, vice president for research for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids; Midge LaPorte Epstein, executive vice president of the American Heart Association South Central Affiliate; and Sara Dreiling, chief executive of the American Lung Assocation for the Plains-Gulf Region.

All the organizations are members of the Smoke-Free Texas Coalition.

The Legislature has less than fives weeks left in its session, which ends May 30.