Senate OKs smoke-free Illinois

Dan Hurley of Carpentersville relaxes at Maggie Miley's in Normal last year. Illinois senators Thursday voted to ban smoking in all indoor public places, including bars, restaurants and state prisons. (Pantagraph file photo)

Friday, March 30, 2007 8:12 PM CDT

By Mike Riopell
mike.riopell@lee.net

SPRINGFIELD -- Choosing health concerns over business ones, Illinois senators Thursday voted to ban smoking in all indoor public places, including bars, restaurants and state prisons.

The vote, the first of its kind in Illinois, comes two years after lawmakers gave local control to communities to decide for themselves whether or not to ban smoking.

In fact, just two years ago, lawmakers could even smoke on the Senate floor.

The ban’s sponsor, state Sen. Terry Link, a Vernon Hills Democrat, said the health damages of second-hand smoke are great enough to force the need of a full ban. He said smokers should just go outside, or smoke in their own homes.

“If you want to smoke, keep smokin’,” he said.

In opposing the ban, state Sen. Dale Righter, a Mattoon Republican, said the state shouldn’t meddle in the issue.

“The local decision makers are closest to the people they represent,” he said.

After a 34-23 vote, the measure now moves to the House.

State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, said he worried about bar patrons crossing the state line to smoke and drink in Iowa. He said the ban could “take a lunch off the plates” of Illinois business owners.

Iowa also is considering legislation to ban smoking in some form, a movement that state Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, sees as inevitable across the country.

“This will be in every state in the nation,” he said.

State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, who opposed the measure, said the issue should come down to personal rights.

“People should have a right to do what they want to do with their property and that includes allowing people to smoke,” he said.

A similar smoking ban plan has already cleared a House committee. House lawmakers left Springfield Thursday and won’t be back until mid-April.

The legislation is Senate Bill 500.

How they voted

Following is how area senators voted Thursday on legislation to ban smoking in public places throughout Illinois. The measure was approved on a 34-23 vote and now heads to the House for further debate.

Yes: Larry Bomke, R-Springfield

No: Bill Brady, R-Bloomington; Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa; Gary Dahl, R-Granville; Dale Risinger, R-Peoria