Senate To Vote On Strict Smoking Ban

Publication Date: 2006-03-16

• Author:Colleen Slevin
• Publication:www.cbs4denver.com

State lawmakers who want to ban smoking in most public places voted to stick to a stricter version of the proposal on Thursday.

That means senators, who exempted bars and others from the ban, now face a vote on the House's version of the proposal. It would ban smoking in bars, restaurants and private clubs but still allow people to light up in casinos.

Sen. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, said he thought he had the minimum 18 votes to pass the stricter ban in the Senate and he planned to ask for a vote later in the day. He said the smoking ban is popular with voters and he hopes that will help it win support in the Senate.

"The closer we get to the finish line, the more people are jumping on board," he said after a conference committee of representatives and senators voted to back the House version.