UPDATE: Smoking Ban

Save

9 comments

A | A | A

Updated Tuesday --- March 4, 2008 ---

Armstrong speaks to more than 1,000 at rally for smoking ban

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- More than 1,000 people showed up in Madison to hear cycling champion Lance Armstrong urge the Legislature to vote on a statewide smoking ban.

The bill is being bottled up in both the Senate and Assembly under opposition from bar owners and the powerful Tavern League lobby.

Armstrong said at Tuesday's rally that there is a moral obligation to prevent nonsmokers from being forced to breathe second hand smoke while at work.

Gov. Jim Doyle also is calling on lawmakers to vote on the ban. He predicts it would pass easily in both the Republican-controlled Assembly and Democratic-controlled Senate.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Updated Tuesday --- March 4, 2008 ---

Committee sends Wisconsin smoking ban bill to full Assembly

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- An Assembly committee has voted 6-3 Tuesday to send a proposed smoking ban to the full Assembly.

But committee chairman Rep. J.A. "Doc" Hines of Oxford says there's still no compromise in place to appease those who want to delay the ban's start in taverns.

Hines says that means there's no guarantee the full Assembly will take up the bill to ban smoking in all bars, restaurants and work places starting in 2009.

Cycling champion Lance Armstrong is appearing in Madison and Milwaukee on Tuesday to push for the ban.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Posted Wednesday --- January 30, 2008 -- 12:45pm

Anti-smoking groups reject latest offer on Wisconsin smoking ban

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The latest attempt at a compromise on a statewide smoking ban has been rejected.

Democratic Sen. Roger Breske of Eland said Wednesday that anti-smoking advocates have rejected a proposal that would delay the ban on smoking in taverns until July 1, 2011. The ban would take effect immediately for all other work places and restaurants in Wisconsin.

Breske says he believes the talks are now back to square one.

Gov. Jim Doyle has been pushing for a statewide ban for all work places, restaurants and taverns to take effect everywhere as soon as possible.

But Breske and the state's Tavern League have been pushing for a phase-in.

More Stories
Men's Health Ranks Madison No. 1 in US for Men

Special Assignment: Parental Control

Special Assignment: Is Your Food Safe With Hormones?

Leukemia Drug Can Halt, Reverse MS

Family First: Dealing with Tantrums

The “Cold” Hard Facts About Asthma

UW Hospital and Clinics Among Top Five for Performance

Stand Up To Cancer Raises $100 Million

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: anonymous on Mar 29, 2008 at 04:13 PM
WE BETTER BAN DOYLE BEFORE HE PUTS US SO FAR IN DEPRESSION THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT! DO NOT VOTE FOR DOYLE FOR A 3RD TERM!

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 5, 2008 at 12:28 PM
If you don't smoke than thats fine ,but what if you pass gas in a public place and eventually someone is going to raise that as an issue I don't think We as a state should follow the leader unless it is only to ban smoking in resturants/ tavern until a certin hour. that is not the case right it is to somehow someway to ruin the small bars and taverns no smokers no business and i am sorry that is what is going to happen.

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 5, 2008 at 05:40 AM
jamie, your polluting the air, why don't YOU and your cigaretts go elsewhere!!

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 4, 2008 at 08:52 PM
Hey Jamie, why don't you help Anonymous put the cattleya converter back on his car on your wat out to the natives? :)

Posted by: Jamie Location: Madison on Mar 4, 2008 at 05:48 PM
You guys are all a bunch of liberals, and why dont you all grow up. You are all talking about imposing on peoples rights well look at you guys imposing on our rights. I think if you have a problem with people smoking then maybe you guys should just go somewhere else. Smoking has been around much longer any of the large tabacco companies, for example the native americans do it as a part of religious practices, are we going to deprive them of their right to practice their religion I think not. They have their rights and we should have ours, and they should not be enfringed upon! So deal with it!

Posted by: A on Mar 4, 2008 at 12:42 PM
It doen't matter if there is a ban or not. Smoking is bad for you. And to anonymous, I think you smell anyways!

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 4, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Who is imposing on who?! If you don't like the smoke, go somewhere else! I don't like the stink of your car, it pollutes the environemnt, and makes me smell! I walk to work and think that all cars should be banned! Your freedoms get takens away when you impose on others! Don't like it do ya?

Posted by: About Location: Time on Jan 30, 2008 at 06:23 PM
It is way past time to ban smoking in these public places. WI is just way back in the dark ages on this matter. So nice, when travelling to other parts of the country, not to have your clothes reeking of stick after stopping off somewhere for a brew, let alone not having to breathe noxious fumes offgassing from others. To Anon below, your freedoms get taken away when you impose on others.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 30, 2008 at 03:21 PM
I agree with a smoking ban in restaurants and work places, however I think its absurd to ask for a ban in taverns! I think its also a joke to ban smoking outdoors. When are people going to stop taking away our freedoms? What next no beer at bars? No outdoor cookers at the brat fest? They produce smoke too ya know.