Smoking Ban Amendment Would Punish Lincoln

Publication Date: 2005-04-12

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• Publication:KETV/TheOmahaChannel.com

Nebraska lawmakers are gearing up for a heated battle over a statewide smoking ban. One amendment added to the bill would punish Lincoln for passing a city-wide smoking ban last November.

If cigarettes are no longer welcome in Lincoln businesses, state Sen. Pat Bourne said the capitol city shouldn't be getting $1.7 million in cigarette taxes. Bourne's amendment would penalize cities that enact tougher ordinances than the state's clean indoor air act. Some Lincoln bar owners have complained their business has taken a hit.

"If they were going to lose revenue similar to what businesses have lost, maybe the politicians should listen and take their views into account," Bourne said.