Senate passes ban on smoking in restaurants

Following several changes, the bill closely mirrored a proposal from Gov. Phil Bredesen to ban smoking in nearly all enclosed public places.

The measure that passed would make exceptions for some sites, including nursing homes, tobacco stores and hotels ? but stopped short of the wider exemptions favored by Sen. Jim Tracy, the bill?s sponsor, and by the tobacco industry.

Tracy, R-Shelbyville, had wanted to continue to allow smoking in bars, private clubs and businesses with up to three employees. Still, Tracy characterized the measure that passed on a 22-5 vote as a compromise bill.

?That is very important for the health of Tennessee,? he said.

Proponents say the measure would protect more workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke. House Democratic Leader Jim Kyle, of Memphis, said the measure would make as many restrictions on smoking as realistically possible.

?I think the governor got 80 percent to 90 percent of what he wants, so now we?ll send it to the House and see what happens,? said Kyle.

Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, voted against the bill because he sees it as an intrusion onto property rights.

?I?ve never hidden my feelings that I?m for the ban in restaurants, that I?d like to see the exemption for places that you have to be carded to get into and an exemption for small businesses,? he said.

Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet, also voted the bill because she said state government shouldn?t be regulating businesses.

?When are we going to stop micromanaging businesses?? she asked.

The companion to Tracy?s proposal is scheduled to be heard in the tobacco-friendly House Agriculture Committee on Tuesday. House Agriculture Chairman Stratton Bone is the sponsor of the companion bill to Tracy?s original proposal to allow more exemptions.

House Majority Leader Gary Odom, D-Nashville and sponsor of the rival proposal supported by the governor, noted that the committee has been resistant to vote on smoking ban proposals.

?I have been to the Agriculture Committee more this session than in my previous 20 years altogether,? said Odom.

Tobacco was once the top cash crop in Tennessee but it has declined in recent years, and lawmakers have been more amenable to restricting it.

House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh was noncommittal on which version of the bill he would support.

?When the majority leader and the chairman of the Agriculture Committee present a bill to us, I?m going to vote for it, however it turns out,? said Naifeh, D-Covington.