Plans for Minnesota?s proposed statewide smoking ban continue to march through the state legislature.
On Thursday, the house passed a ban that would allow local governments to authorize ventilated smoking rooms. The senate has already passed a tougher bill.
At the Park Tavern in St. Louis Park, owner Phil Weber spent $250,000 to build a smoking lounge to deal with Hennepin County?s smoking ban.
He welcome?s the house version of the statewide ban.
But according to Representative Dan Severson (R ? Sauk Rapids) one of the author's of the house bill, such smoking rooms will have a tough time in conference committee. He says not all establishments can afford those rooms.
Weber hopes he's wrong, "I?m not the only one that built a smoking room."
In the event the smoking ban passes, and smoking rooms are left out, Weber plans to convert his smoking lounge to a party room.
(Copyright 2007 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)
