Michigan Falls Short Again on Ban in Public Places..

September 25, 2008 - The State of Michigan came up 6-votes short in the state House in passage of a bill to ban smoking for all public places. The bill, had already cleared the state Senate and would be signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm. The main hangup - Detroit Democrats, concerned about a smoking ban's impact on the casinos and the revenues they generate, were instrumental in blocking the bill. "One reason we got a boom in Detroit casinos is because Windsor (Canada across the Detroit River) got a smoking ban," said Rep. George Cushingberry Jr., D-Detroit, who added that the loss of casino revenue would hurt schools and city services they help to fund.

The legislation would bar smoking in public buildings, any workplace, bars and restaurants, mall food courts and casinos in Detroit. Advocates for passage say they'll try again -- perhaps as early as today.

Related news brief: Michigan Senate Deals Blow To Smoking Ban...

Reference: Bill to bar public smoking falls short, Charlie Cain and Mark Hornbeck / Detroit News Lansing Bureau, The Detroit News, 9/24/2008