State Status
No Preemption
Pending Legislation
News Summary
Whelan softens on casino smoking
Publication Date: 2006-06-22
- Author:Pete McAleer
- Publication:Press of Atlantic City
Anti-smoking groups want cigarettes banned from casino gaming floors.
Atlantic City's casino industry would prefer to remain exempt from New Jersey's indoor smoking ban and simply install a new ventilating system.
Assemblyman Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, finds himself somewhere in between. Once a staunch supporter of adding casino gaming floors to the state indoor smoking ban, Whelan spoke about a compromise this week with those on both sides of the issue. He said he plans to introduce legislation in the fall that would allow smoking on a portion of casino gaming floors possibly 20 percent with the rest of the gaming floor made smoke-free within a year of the bill's passage.
It's very possible I'll put a bill in that manages to tick off both sides of this, Whelan said. That's OK.