Colorado smoking ban advances

Publication Date: 2005-04-29

• Author:STEVEN K. PAULSON
• Publication:Casper Star-Tribune

The Colorado Senate on Thursday approved a statewide ban on smoking in restaurants, overriding the objections of some Republicans who argued that no one is being forced to work in a smoky business.

The measure passed on a 21-12 vote and now moves to the House.

Sen. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, said many restaurant workers are wrongly forced to choose between their health and their jobs because of second-hand smoke...

The ban originally included casinos and bars, but they were exempted under an amendment offered by Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins. Johnson said that gave it a better chance of passing.