MONROE - Members of the Democratic-controlled Legislature have said they will take another look at a statewide smoking ban early in the next session.
While some support the idea, there are others who say the state should stay out of private business decisions.
In the past eight months, five more Wisconsin communities and Dane County have passed their own smoking bans, bolstering the argument that a comprehensive state policy is needed.
Maureen Busalacchi, executive director of Smoke Free Wisconsin, said she feels good about the new makeup of the Legislature: Democrats now control both chambers. Also, one of the ban's stiffest opponents, former Tavern League President Roger Breske, left the state Senate earlier this year to become Gov. Jim Doyle's railroad commissioner.
In Monroe, Flanagan's Shenanigans has been a smoke-free bar since it opened a couple of years ago. Turner Hall does not allow smoking, either.
In June, Ludlow Bar went smoke-free. Owner Jim Ruf said his decision to make the bar smoke-free came after a remodeling project.
"I decided I didn't want any smoke damage to the building," he said.
He also knew a smoking ban was becoming more popular and saw the writing on the wall.
"I think it's a sign of the future," he said.
Ruf said he didn't have anything against smoking and was a smoker for many years before quitting, but his overriding interest was to present a clean environment for his customers.
People still can smoke outside of his business, he added.
Chris Soukup, owner of Baumgartner Cheese Store, said he opposes a statewide ban because it puts too much power over private businesses in the hands of the government.
"We should be able to go to a nonsmoking bar or stay a smoking bar if we want to," he said.
Soukup said he would support putting up signs for people to see at the door to let them know if a bar allows smoking or prohibits smoking. Then, he said, it would be up to the customer to decide if they want to go into that particular bar.
Soukup said it could hurt bars, but a statewide ban wouldn't be as harmful to a bar as a citywide ban. He said people wouldn't be able to go to another community to drink if the ban was across the state.
However, Soukup said it could hurt bars that already don't allow smoking.
"It would take a niche away from them," he said.
The Tavern League opposes a statewide ban. Chief Executive Pete Madland said he didn't think there was any momentum for the idea even though five communities and one county have passed local bans since March. He notes that other communities, including Kenosha, have rejected it.
The Wisconsin proposal supported by Doyle, the American Cancer Society and others would ban smoking in all work places, including bars and restaurants.
While some support the idea, there are others who say the state should stay out of private business decisions.
In the past eight months, five more Wisconsin communities and Dane County have passed their own smoking bans, bolstering the argument that a comprehensive state policy is needed.
Maureen Busalacchi, executive director of Smoke Free Wisconsin, said she feels good about the new makeup of the Legislature: Democrats now control both chambers. Also, one of the ban's stiffest opponents, former Tavern League President Roger Breske, left the state Senate earlier this year to become Gov. Jim Doyle's railroad commissioner.
In Monroe, Flanagan's Shenanigans has been a smoke-free bar since it opened a couple of years ago. Turner Hall does not allow smoking, either.
In June, Ludlow Bar went smoke-free. Owner Jim Ruf said his decision to make the bar smoke-free came after a remodeling project.
"I decided I didn't want any smoke damage to the building," he said.
He also knew a smoking ban was becoming more popular and saw the writing on the wall.
"I think it's a sign of the future," he said.
Ruf said he didn't have anything against smoking and was a smoker for many years before quitting, but his overriding interest was to present a clean environment for his customers.
People still can smoke outside of his business, he added.
Chris Soukup, owner of Baumgartner Cheese Store, said he opposes a statewide ban because it puts too much power over private businesses in the hands of the government.
"We should be able to go to a nonsmoking bar or stay a smoking bar if we want to," he said.
Soukup said he would support putting up signs for people to see at the door to let them know if a bar allows smoking or prohibits smoking. Then, he said, it would be up to the customer to decide if they want to go into that particular bar.
Soukup said it could hurt bars, but a statewide ban wouldn't be as harmful to a bar as a citywide ban. He said people wouldn't be able to go to another community to drink if the ban was across the state.
However, Soukup said it could hurt bars that already don't allow smoking.
"It would take a niche away from them," he said.
The Tavern League opposes a statewide ban. Chief Executive Pete Madland said he didn't think there was any momentum for the idea even though five communities and one county have passed local bans since March. He notes that other communities, including Kenosha, have rejected it.
The Wisconsin proposal supported by Doyle, the American Cancer Society and others would ban smoking in all work places, including bars and restaurants.