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.
AP
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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.
AP
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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.
AP