The state is going to ban smoking in public places...the only argument now is casinos, but even w/ an excpetion for non-Indian gaming places, the rest of the state will go smoke-free...and go quickly...
The bill is back in the state house now...I'll try and get some more scoop from some members tomorrow...
With MI still having the worst economy in the state, that's all we can do for relief is have a cocktail and a smoke...this sucks...
jag
Posts: 540 | Location: Michigan | Registered: September 15, 2006
The state is going to ban smoking in public places...the only argument now is casinos, but even w/ an excpetion for non-Indian gaming places, the rest of the state will go smoke-free...and go quickly...
The bill is back in the state house now...I'll try and get some more scoop from some members tomorrow...
With MI still having the worst economy in the state, that's all we can do for relief is have a cocktail and a smoke...this sucks...
jag
...As a native, born and raised in Detroit, I feel for you brother.~
~"The freedom's I've served my country to defend are being taken away.... by my country."
The Senate version is the most strict I've seen anywhere. It bans smoking in tobacco shops, cigar bars and Detroit casinos. It might even include hotel rooms.
It remains to be seen if the state House goes along with that.
I heard on the local news yesterday that there was a loophole in the bill that may stop the whole thing in its tracks. I did not hear specifics, but I hope they're right.
"Happiness is a good martini, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman, or a bad woman, depending on how much happiness you can stand" George Burns
Posts: 520 | Location: Lincoln Park, MI | Registered: March 21, 2004
I'm a Michigan resident as well. The only "loophole" I can think of is that the bill does not cover the state's 20 Indian casinos, because they are not under state control. The 3 Detroit commercial casinos are expected to bring tremendous pressure on Detroit lawmakers to re-insert the exemption.
It's debatable whether they will be able to do so, though.
Well, it could get stalled in the House...but I doubt that, the dems control the house...but if they insert a non-Indian casino exemption (which is likely) it will go back to the Senate and could face being stalled again...if it gets stalled long enough and the legislature goes into summer break...it could be delayed a long time...
(all of this is doubtful, though)
jag
Posts: 540 | Location: Michigan | Registered: September 15, 2006
Whether it gets passed before summer break or not, the ban would not go into effect before late March or April 2009.
But something is near certain to pass this year. However, it barely passed the Democrat-controlled House the last time. The few exemptions were added to ensure passage --- especially the Detroit casinos. Removing all of them could make a problem.
I'm most upset about no exemption for cigar stores. That makes no sense. The smoking ban sponsor in the House mentioned that might be a small problem, so I have hope there.
Originally posted by MRM: Whether it gets passed before summer break or not, the ban would not go into effect before late March or April 2009.
I'm not sure where you're getting that information...it's not in the bill as passed by the senate or the revised legislative analyses...
quote:
But something is near certain to pass this year.
I agree completely...
quote:
However, it barely passed the Democrat-controlled House the last time. The few exemptions were added to ensure passage --- especially the Detroit casinos. Removing all of them could make a problem.
Det. casinos are the sticking point now...they've spent a lot of money in the house for the exception...
quote:
I'm most upset about no exemption for cigar stores. That makes no sense. The smoking ban sponsor in the House mentioned that might be a small problem, so I have hope there.
When this legislation was brought out in 2007, it included an exemption for cigar bars that genenrated a revenue of over 30% from tobacco sales, and for cigar shops that generated a revenue of more than 75% from tobacco sales...however I can't find it in the bill as passed by the senate and I can't find a compendium bill that would address the issue...
I'm gonna walk over Monday morning and get the scoop before the Rep's come in for session on Tuesday...
jag
Posts: 540 | Location: Michigan | Registered: September 15, 2006
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." Ronald Reagan
