Anti-smoking coalition angry about weakened bill

Publication Date: 2007-05-17

• Publication:News 8 (Austin, TX)

Members of Smoke-Free Texas, a coalition of the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, American Heart Association and Texas PTA that's pushing for a statewide smoking ban, rallied outside the Capitol on Thursday to urge the Senate to approve a ban.

The House already passed the proposal, though in a weakened state. Smoking ban proponents want the bill back to its original form that would prohibit smoking in all bars, restaurants and work sites across Texas.

Sen. Rodney Ellis, a D-Houston, sponsoring the measure in the Senate, said he's urging Texans to get involved in getting the legislation passed.