House panel OKs state smoking ban

Publication Date: 2007-03-21

• Publication:The Baltimore Sun

A Maryland House panel approved yesterday a statewide ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, moving the debate to the full House of Delegates and Senate, where legislative leaders say the measure has the votes to pass.

The House Economic Matters Committee voted 15-8 to approve the ban, which prohibits smoking in most indoor public places, following the Senate Finance Committee's passage of a similar measure Monday. The bill has been pushed by health advocates for several years but has drawn opposition from bar and restaurant owners who argue that the bill is unnecessary and could put them out of business.

"Public health has to come before profits," said Del. Dereck E. Davis, the committee chairman and a Prince George's County Democrat.

The House bill contains a provision similar to the Senate version that would allow bar owners to apply for a "hardship" waiver from local health officials if they can show that the ban unduly hurts them financially. But the House bill does not exempt the Veterans of Foreign Wars and other private clubs, as does the Senate bill.