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January 14, 2004Allen's committe to hear anti-smoking billBill sponsor: It has languished under AllenByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - State Sen. Jason Allen agreed Tuesday that a committee he chairs will hear a bill to ban smoking in restaurants, hours after the bill's sponsor carried his fight to Allen's hometown, the state's most smoke-free city. But Allen said state Sen. Ray Basham's anti-smoking legislation won't necessarily earn a committee vote. Basham, D-Taylor, continued a media blitz Tuesday to prod Allen into granting a hearing and a vote on Senate Bill 186, which has languished in the Allen-chaired Commerce and Labor Committee. The bill would prohibit smoking in all state restaurants and most bars that serve food. "This is about public health, nothing more, nothing less," Basham said. "It's an epidemic when 2,500 people a year die from second-hand smoke in Michigan." Traverse City leads the state in smoke-free restaurants with 155. Basham charges that powerful tobacco and restaurant industry lobbyists have kept his bill from getting a hearing. Last spring Basham told the Detroit Free Press that Allen refused to give his bill a hearing. On Tuesday, Basham said Allen then promised him a hearing in the fall, but never scheduled one. "The chair is a very powerful position and if he doesn't want to hear a bill, the committee won't," Basham said. Allen said his committee addressed a number of important bill packages and they were too busy to take up Basham's bill. "Every senator that has a bill is important to me, and I will work through this one, too," Allen said. Allen said by early next week he will schedule the bill for a spring hearing. He would not promise a vote. "Well, maybe that's progress. I guess we'll have to wait and see," Basham said, adding that he may pursue a referendum to place the issue before voters if lawmakers won't address his bill. Allen questioned its need, considering the growing number of establishments going smoke free in Michigan. "I'm very concerned about the bill," Allen said. "There are restaurateurs in our community that have expressed concern." In 2002, Allen received at least $4,000 in direct campaign contributions from restaurant and tobacco interests, not including contributions from lobbyists that list restaurant or tobacco interests among their clients, according to state records. The Michigan Licensed Beverage Association and Michigan Restaurant Association oppose the bill, and are against extending it a hearing. Private clubs, like VFW halls or the Elks are exempted, they say, as are bowling alleys, making it more difficult for small restaurants to compete. Don's Drive-In is the latest Traverse City restaurant to go smoke-free, and general manager Brent Bart said he'd welcome the bill. He said smokers cost him patrons, and though some smokers complained, they still come back. Because they don't smoke and chat after they eat, he turns his tables over faster. Basham said cities and states that passed smoke-free laws have not shown any negative economic impacts, and in New York city the effect was an increase in business. Martin Van Valkenburg, spokesman for the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association, said when people go to bars they expect smoke. He also said proper ventilation and non-smoking areas are adequate to protect the public health. Kristyn Sorensen, spokeswoman for the restaurant association, said Traverse City demonstrates how the free market and choice are already addressing the issue, and restaurant owners don't want the state telling them how to run their businesses.
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