Excerpt:

It is great to hear that a compromise has been reached on the smoking ban and it has passed the Iowa House and Iowa Senate. I think Iowa’s Legislators need to be thanked for passing this law, especially Rep. Tyler Olson for pushing the issue in the House.

The bill is a compromise between the total ban favored by the Senate and the exception-laden version favored by the House.

The House passed the bill 54-45 after less than an hour of debate, sending it to the Senate a few minutes after noon. The Senate began debate a few hours later and passed the measure, 28-22.

Culver indicated he would sign the bill, which would take effect on July 1.

The bill bans smoking in restaurants and bars, but includes a few exemptions.

Iowans will still be able to smoke in the gambling areas of casinos, although smoke would be prohibited in casino restaurants, gift shops, bars and employee areas.

They can smoke in the outdoor areas of bars, the outdoors areas of county fairs and the State Fair except the grandstands, in limousines and in retail tobacco stores.

Other exemptions are designated areas of correctional facilities, the state veterans home in Marshalltown and Iowa National Guard facilities.

This bill means that 99.9 percent of Iowa’s public places and 99.9 percent of Iowa’s work force would be protected from second hand smoke.

One of the arguments that opponents of the bill say is that the bill will hurt business at bars and restaurants. I disagree. There are two restaurants that I love to eat at in town, but rarely would go to because of the smoke.

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