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House passes smoking ban
Nornes says measure too restrictive
Published Friday, April 27, 2007
State Representative Bud Nornes
Restricting too many other freedoms forced Dist. 10A Rep. Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls) to vote against the House Freedom to Breathe bill, though it still passed 85-45 Thursday.
“I kept looking for a reason to vote for it,” Nornes said. “After many hours of debate, I couldn’t. This would affect so many — employee lounges, bowling alleys. There’s too much personal freedom being taken away by the state government.”
At one point, he said, there was an amendment that would have prohibited farmers from smoking in their own shops if they had hired help. That amendment did not last, however.
“They should have kept it simple and stuck with what they wanted to do, which was basically bars and restaurants.”
How they voted
Republicans voting no:
• Nornes (Fergus Falls)
• Simpson (Perham)
• Westrom (Elbow Lake)
Democrats voting no:
• Marquart (Dilworth)
The statewide smoking ban outlawing smoking in bars and restaurants would take effect Jan. 1, 2009, and would allow local officials to authorize ventilated smoking rooms in bars, where customers could light up without ordering food or drinks because employees couldn’t enter during business hours.
The bill would punish violations by smokers and permissive proprietors with fines of up to $300. It wouldn’t affect smoking in private homes or cars, hotel rooms or cigar shops.
The Senate version approved last month would outlaw smoking in bars, restaurants, clubs and other workplaces, with the exception of outdoor patios that would be off-limits to an establishment’s workers. The Senate ban would take effect Aug. 1.
The debate now moves to conference committee “to see if they can agree on one bill that accomplishes what everyone wants,” Nornes said.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty would sign a statewide smoking ban, but has said he would like an exception for VFWs and American Legions, his spokesman Brian McClung said.
If the smoking ban becomes law, Minnesota will become the 19th state to prohibit smoking in bars and restaurants.
House members also approved minor additions to the bill, including a prohibition on smoking medical marijuana in nursing homes, a study of the ban’s effect on charitable gambling and a provision allowing smoking in private clubs without employees.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by JulieAnn (anonymous) on April 27, 2007 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you for seeing this as to much Government retrictions. "Outdoor patio is ok to smoke in but no employees can go out there to serve customers"??????
Are we so worried about the health of grown adults choosing where they want to work? Frankly if you don't want to work in smoke who applies for such a position? That argument has always seemed like a useless debate. What about auto mechanics they are in exhaust and chemicals or coal miners that mine the coal for Otter Tail Power so we have electicity in our homes. They are allowed in their shops and in their mines. Thank you I agree with you that Government restrictions can be to much.
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