Smoking ban advocates say the latest compromise from a legislative leader is no compromise at all. Allison Prange of the American Cancer Society emerged from a meeting with staffers for Senator Russ Decker Friday to say that the latest offer from the Senate Majority Leader doesn't cut it.
Decker remains committed to a July, 2011 date to ban smoking in all taverns and restaurants that serve alcohol. Prange wants Decker and Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch to schedule votes on the smoking ban bills in their respective chambers before the legislature adjourns next week.
Pete Hanson with the Wisconsin Restaurant Association says the version of a statewide smoking ban which was approved by the state Senate's health committee deserves a vote. That bill carries an implentation date of January 1st, 2010. Time is running out: the legislative session is scheduled to end next Thursday.
