Statewide Smoking Ban Faces Uncertain Future

MADISON, Wis. -- The state Legislature is considering a statewide ban on smoking in all public workplaces, restaurants and bars, but the ban has bogged down under opposition from tavern owners. Now, some are wondering if legislators will take action on the hot-button issue before the session ends in March.

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The bill will get a hearing in the Assembly on Wednesday, but after making it through a Senate committee, the bill has yet to see the light on the Senate floor, leading some to wonder if a vote will happen this session.

The battle lines have been drawn over the bill between smoke-free advocates and the Tavern League of Wisconsin. Both are running ads in newspapers and on radio seeking a resolution to the statewide smoking ban bill.

"We're still trying to reach a compromise. I put a proposal on the table over a week ago that I thought took care of 85 percent of both sides, the smoke free people as well as the Tavern League concerns," said Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker. "The Tavern League said they were close to agreeing to it; the smoke free people said they were not."

Decker has refused to schedule the bill for a vote on the floor, saying the bill as it came out of committee, which grants taverns an exemption until 2010, won't pass the Senate.

"It doesn't have the votes. It's not a partisan issue. If we don't get a compromise, it's going to be very difficult to get something done," Decker said.

But Decker's compromise, which delays the ban for taverns, grandfathers in existing bans and those on the ballot in April, but doesn't allow new municipal bans. That compromise doesn't have the support of either side at this point, WISC-TV reported.

"We're more than willing to talk about timelines and those kinds of things, but if the state determines that a longer timeline is needed, for whatever reason, then its imperative that locals have the option to move quicker," said Marueen Busalacchi, executive director of Smoke Free Wisconsin.

The Tavern League, who was unreachable for comment Tuesday, is saying in its ads that the bill would decrease business statewide.

The session ends in just more than two seeks, so whether a compromise or a vote will happen is questionable, WISC-TV reported.

"We'll keep talking and keep working toward a compromise. I've not drawn a line in the sand anyplace and neither have the Senate Democrats," Decker said.

Both sides are trying to rally support for their position. Smoke Free Wisconsin has organized a rally in Madison on March 4 with Lance Armstrong.