New Hampshire Ban on smoking Snuffed Out

The Union Leader reports:

A proposed ban on smoking in restaurants and bars came up one vote short in the Senate yesterday, failing 12-11.

The bill had passed the House by 33 votes last month. Senators said the bill was the subject of one of the most intense lobbying efforts they could recall.

New Hampshire is the only New England state without such a ban. A poll that smoking ban supporters commissioned showed public support ran at 79 percent.

The issue was painted by proponents as one of public health, especially for restaurant workers who must breathe second-hand smoke throughout their time on the job.

But senators who spoke against the ban said restaurant owners should make the decision on their own. They noted that roughly 60 percent of restaurants already have decided to go smoke free.

"It is not the proper role of government to try and control competition between businesses," said Sen. Chuck Morse, R-Salem, chairman of the Finance Committee that tied last week on whether the bill should pass.

What Chuck Morse said isn't exactly popular in many parts of the country,unfortunately.