Smoking ban amendment lights up the House

Rep. Myra Crownover's "elegant little amendment" lit up the House this evening.

Crownover, R-Denton, wants to ban smoking in public places like bars and restaurants. She tacked her amendment to the Senate's non-tax revenue bill the House is currently debating. She estimates it will save the state at least $30 million in Medicaid costs.

The amendment passed 73-66, but not before a bit of a flare up.

Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, got angry when she heard Rep. David Smith, R-Longview, ask to expand the smoking ban to include perfume. She told him to take the issue seriously and show some decor. He pulled his amendment.

Amendments did pass with exemptions to pool halls, bingo tournaments and fraternal organizations. No bowling alleys?

The House grew somber when Crownover explained her personal attachment. Her husband died of leukemia. One of the major causes of that cancer is benzene, she said, a carcinogen in second-hand smoke.

Source: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/05/smokinng-ban.html

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