Legislators are considering enacting a smoking ban this session. Here's what they are saying about it ...

Paul Kohls (R-34A, Victoria) suspects that the smoking ban legislation will pass this year. As a non-smoker, he noted that he’d enjoy the smoke-free environments that would emerge from the policy, but, “That’s not a sufficient reason from my perspective to support the legislative ban.”

“I just don’t think it’s an appropriate role for government to tell a private business that it can’t allow its customers to use a legal substance on their property.”

 It’s an issue that doesn’t follow party or political lines, noted Rep. Joe Hoppe (R-34B, Chaska).

“I know some people who are just absolutely rock-solid conservative [who are] adamantly in favor of the smoking ban because they have asthma or their kid has asthma or their mom died of lung cancer or something.” At the same time, he said he knows liberal Democrats “who are absolutely adamantly opposed to this smoking ban.”

“So this one is just kind of all over the place.”

Hoppe said he’s torn about the issue, because he doesn’t like smoking.

“I just have a little trouble with the whole property rights thing, so I’m leaning towards voting against it.”

He said he thinks that it’s a little hypocritical to ban smoking in places even though it’s a legal product.

Sen. Julianne Ortman (R-42, Chanhassen), said that some version of a smoking ban will likely pass.

“I think a smoking ban is destined to get passed at some point.”

Which version, whether the ban would include all workplaces, she could not predict.

Ruud said she would like to see a bill go through without any exemptions for bars and restaurants.  She noted that the biggest challenge to the bill “will be keeping out exemptions.”

An example of possible exemptions could be for bars that are more “mom and pop” establishments. Or, in the case of Hennepin County, bars that have alcohol as more than 50 percent of sales, can also apply for an exemption.

Ortman would rather leave it up to local governments to decide.

“I tend to think that local elected officials know what’s best for their community and can respond to the challenges of that.”

As to a statewide bill that would give exemptions to certain places, she said an all-or-nothing approach would be better.

“It should be a very consistent approach or else we should just accept the fact that we [are not ready to] do it on a statewide basis and allow our local communities to do it.”

What's your take on smoking bans?