What do you think a Smoking Ban in Michigan? Comment here.

I 100% support a smoking ban in Michigan. Cigarette smoke is harmful, it clouds the air, and it makes your clothes, hair and skin smell after you've been in any establishment allowing it. If it is banned in all bars and restaurants here, I don't believe any businesses would lose money because of it, because it's not optional. Progressive states like CA and NY have banned it. We need to do the same.

Smoking is icky. People should do it outside -- no big deal. And of they wanna stink up their homes, let them do it there, too. No need to do it in indoor spaces many of us share.

I started smoking when I was stationed in Viet Nam, then it was acceptable, even my church sent me cigarettes in care packages. I see this as just another freedom being taken away. If you'd wait, we'll all die off and you won't have to contend with the second hand, stinky smoke.

This is a wonderful thing for those of us who work in bars, pubs, and restaurants. Imagine someone walking into a restaurant with a boombox playing very loud offensive music. I think we would all agree that we would ask that person to either turn it off step outside. Second hand smoke is just as offensive to me. I hope the House siezes the opportunity and passes a complete ban with no exceptions.

Why doesn't the Senate, House, and Governor spend their resources were they are really needed...in providing jobs for the unemployed instead of possibly forcing small business owners into this same category by invading the privacy of the business and its patrons.

Why not give the small business owner a choice? It is their business and they should be able to operate how they want within the existing laws. Why invade their business and FREEDOM OF CHOICE? What is the next freedom to be taken away? Is Granholm going to create the "Cigarette Police" to enforce the new law?

I dont think that this is a good route for Michigan to take. I personally am a smoker who has actually moved out of the state after college. I currently live in Chicago where there is a smoking ban through the entire state of Illinois. I think it works here in Chicago because it is a very metropolitan area. There are some many bars and restaurants in confined areas that it is always buzzing with activity. I cant even imagine stepping outside a bar in Sterling Heights or Royal Oak to have a cigarette. Instead of stepping out of a bar into a lively city, I am stepping out practically into a major road. Michigan has so much more to worry about before a smoking ban. How about making it so people like myself want to move back to Michigan instead of leaving to actually find a job. This is not the way to do it. Also, constantly increasing taxes on cigarettes and then kicking smokers into the street isn't going to get us to stop smoking. I smoke because I choose to. There was no big tobacco representative that made me do it. I am glad that the sstate I hale from is more worried about banning smoking rather then getting a corrupt Mayor out of Detroit. Thats right, make up other issues when you want to ignore the ones that may be the most important.

I don't smoke so why should I have to put up with others smoking around me?

The smoking ban is great for us non-smokers. Those who smoke would argue that their rights are not being respected but the rest of us do not want to die from second hand smoke.

MI has been behind the times ann living in those other regions, I would frequent more restautants and bars knowing they are smoke free. I pay good money to enjoy my meals and outings only to have them interupted when my meal arrives and someone decides they are finished and it's time for me to "enjoy" their smoke with my meal. Smokers have rights and if they want to smoke we should provide self contained helmets to keep their smoke to themselves. Seriously, Outdoor establishements all bets are off and they should be able to smoke but indoors is another issue entirely. I don't smoke because I CHOOSE to. Welcome to the 21st century. I used to roll around in the back of my parent's station wagon now I wouldn't be caught dead w/o a seatbelt. We are learn that some things are bad for us once we grow up!

I hate going to a bar and coming home smelling like smoke.

I'm a non smoker. I believe it should be the choice of the establishment to do what they want and for the customers choice to go there if there is smoking or not. Not the goverment.

Yes... Michigan has more to worry about, but this is easy to fix. Keep your smoke to yourself. It sickens me that we have to tell people that! People are so selfish that they don't even care that they are making uncomfortable with their smoke. Thankyou Senate!

Ohio banned smoking in public places. I really like it. Michigan should waste any more time banning smoking. I proposed to state Reps that the following should be included in the Child Protection Act, Any parent or gaurdian who exposes a child to second hand smoke or allows a minor child to smoke be charged with child abuse

The people who smoke also play KENO at the bars and that supports our schools. The smokers pay a heavy tax that our state surely miss dearly. Once again you democrates impose your do-gooder will on the rest of us.

If New York can do it everywhere in the city then why can't Detroit. Next.. get the entire state to RECYCLE that means you Detroit!

Smoking has been proven to be hazardous to your health just as driving without a seat belt is dangerous to your health. The states passed a law requiring seat belts why not a smoking ban.

I don't believe that this is a solution. I moved to Michigan from Ohio. When Ohio passed the smoking bans, many bars, restaurants, and even bowling alleys lost business and had to eventually close down. It first will put more businesses out, making more people in this state unemployed. I feel like are freedom is getting rid of more & more because we let the government pass these laws when they need to commit to other serious issues like helping regulate these gas prices. Smoking isn't polluting the air that much. What about the refinaries here that make the most smog? That is far worse then smoke from cigarettes. Congress needs to go for the major issues at hand, not spend time & our tax money on an issue like this, at least not at this time. It's my choice to smoke. People that smoke know the risk. Why should us smokers be forced to go outside. If you don't like it, then leave. Know one is forcing you to stay in a environment that allows smoking.

Why should we leave? We are not doing anything to hurt others... you ARE... YOU LEAVE!

Yes it is your choice to smoke. That is why you are forced to go outside! Keep your smoke to yourself! Why wouldn't you go outside? So you don't care about others... you selfish pig!

Many smokers are selfish and it is shameful (and unfortunately necessary) that we have to pass a law to make them respect other people%u2019s health.

Senator Basham and others have been trying to pass this legislation for years. I tried via email to get Nancy Cassis to support the bill and she declined.It's too bad we must legislate laws to protect ouselves from second hand smoke, but so many smokersare so inconsiderate of those of us who want to go to dinner and enjoy our meals without filling our lungs with their second hand smoke.You can't smoke in state buildings, schools, hospitals, etc. Let them take it outside.

I now understand why Michigan is in the state that it is currently in. I read through these comments and I see things such as "easy fix" or "smokers are so selfish". Keep doing what your doing then. Keep making all the easy fixes and put off the important things until later. Don't try and create laws that actually help the environment and reduce pollution becuase a smoking ban will do that. Don't try and diversify the state's economy so you all depend on the automotive industry, just complain about gas prices. Instead of trying to create jobs, lets put a few hundred bars and smaller establishments out of business because there clientle can just stay home and have a few beers and cigarettes instead of going to the bar. And have fun sitting on your hands while you have politians in office that pass teh easy fixes instead of, I don't know, getting rid of a corrupt Detroit Mayor that is throwing away your budget. And to "Its about time" its not a matter of growing up. I am not a child. Your use of a horrible accedote did nothing. Why don't you put some money and time towards your revolutionary smoking heltmet? Your ridiculous.

Now we ALL understand why Michigan is in the state it is in. With blue collar jobs going abroad, unemployed and illiterate people such as yourself are what we are left with. You may very well not be a child, but my third grader has a better command of the English language than you have. Just look at the posts, the ones that are full of misspelled words and poor grammar all seem to stem from those opposed to the ban. I would surmise that smoking is not just dangerous, but makes you stupid as well. Stay at home on your couch drinking beers and smoking - we are all better off without you being in public.

Sorry I just stepped away from watching Jerry Springer to make a post. I didn't have time to get my dictionary because I had to run to the kitchen for another PBR. As a college grad and someone with the brains to get a job that moved outside of Michigan in Chicago, where an actual economy exists, I resent that statement. I apologize that I am typing into a box that only shows four words and that I didn't go back through to proofread. To be honest, I didn't think any of you would notice and be so critical. But I do think that it is quite funny that you attack my grammar and my spelling and not mention anything about the matter at hand. Another bright example of how people in Michigan currently think. I also wanted to explain why I am taking the time to write on this message board. I want to move back to Michigan one day. I have family there and I would like to raise my family around them. So I try and stay current on the issues in Michigan. But after reading these comments that are nothing but superficial attacks on how to use a comma, I realize that it may be a while before anything changes. So keep voting in King Kwame, Granholm and the lot of them. The state has to hit rock bottom some day right? Then there is no where to go but up. Was my spelling better for you? Sorry, we're back from commercial. I'll check in and see if you posted again about any of my spelling errors.

Finally the government is doing something that is positive! This ban will allow parents to take their children to places that were always filled with smoke. Smokers can wait 30 minutes to have a smoke, it won't kill them. Allowing smoking in a closed environment like a restaurant is like allowing urinating in your pool, even a smoker would not want to swim in a pool that has urine in it.

You talk about keno players paying for schools, basically dying to pay for schools. Also are you aware that stats show that even smokers like a smoker-free environment. They don't even like the stale smoke the leave behind so I'm glad that we are about to have a ban.

Wow, you are certainly angry. I thought it was clear what my opinion was, but I can certainly spell it out for you, since you seem to have difficulty with reading comprehension. The smoking ban is a brilliant idea, and I'm completely in favor of it. Wow, you stay current on issues in Michigan? Goody for you. I actually LIVE here, and have to deal with the consequences of walking into establishments that allow smoking. Honestly, no one in Michigan cares what your opinion is - so don't do us any favors. You should not procreate, but if you do, please stay in Chicago. GO WINGS!

Fortunately, I am smart enough to realize that neither of us is going to back down. And since there are other people that should voice their opinion, I am going to stop talking to you about this and see what others have to say. But I should let you know that you should pick up a book of anecdotes at your nearest book store. The ones that you have been using do not work. Have fun taking your kids to a bar at 11:00 pm on a Friday night.

And here I was thinking that you didn't know how to spell anecdote. I'm fine with ending our discussion as well, but I should clarify one issue. I expect that when I take my children to the bar after the truck and tractor pull, that we will be going into a smokey environment. I do not expect that, however, when taking them out to dinner. And one other thing - do you even know what an anecdote is? Maybe you do now that you got out your trusty (and I suspect dusty) dictionary to get the correct spelling. I was simply adding my opinion to a list of posts, and noticed a common thread with those opposed to the ban, that being terrible spelling and grammar. Go have a sensible Marlboro and calm down.

If there is smoking there, I'll go to another place. Let the market place work. No one is putting a gun to your head to eat, bowl, etc.. at these places.

I am a non-smoker, and this is what I have to say. First off, if you want this law to pass, then the government is one more step into our personal lives. Everyone cries about how %u201CBig Brother%u201D is watching, yet I see a lot of comments in which are praising this bill. Hint-Hint that is Big Brother watching over us. This is not an issue of where and where you cannot smoke. Everyone has a choice to go where they want to. If you don%u2019t like the smoke, go somewhere else where it is banned. It is that simple. Smokers go into non-smoking places and don%u2019t complain. Why should the non-smokers complain, when they walk into a smoky bar? Hello people, when you walk into a bar you know it is going to be smoky!! If you are concerned about your health, why would you put yourself in that situation? This is just another way the government can control our lives. Most businesses about 99% (took a stab, not an actual number) are considered sole-proprietors. This means the owner has all the say in what goes on in their business, as long as it is legal. Having said that, the government just took their rights away. It is a step into the door of controlling their business, which I think is a slap in the face. The government is pretty much saying "you are not responsible enough to run your own business so I will do it for you.%u201D If I was a business owner I would be offended. So where does it go from here? What else would the government control? What you sell, how much to sell it for, and how to spend your profits?...WHERE DOES IT STOP!! I have been to Toledo, which has already banned smoking. It was kind of weird going into a smokeless micro brewery, and I must say it was nice. However, it is not worth loosing the freedom of choice. We must take a stand and let the government know that intervening in our lives STOPS HERE! Can I get here-here?...I might have to wait till after 5pm when all the people with common sense get off of work. P.S. Kudos to the business owners who willingly banned smoking on their own.

OK- Now how do I get all you non smoking perscription drug addicts, to stop pissing in my (private residence), drinking water? Where are my rights?

Here-here! You see the light.

I'm a non-smoker and have lived in Michigan all my life. I'm a concerned citizen that would like to see Michigan flourish and prosper. I go to restaurants and bars because I choose to, if the smoke bothers me, I don't go, period...no one is forcing me. We, and when I say we, I mean our state government should concentrate their efforts on more important issues like getting more jobs, recruiting businesses to our state, not passing a legislation that will scare them away. What do we ban next, smoking outside or maybe get rid of cigarettes completly. I don't like smoking and I hate the smell, but there are many non-smoking establishments that cater to non-smokers. The poor economic sitiutaion in our state will only get worse if this law is passed. Why punish the small businesses that are trying to eek out a living these days. This will be the final stab that will force many business owners into bankruptcy and close shop. What's next add another tax on cigarettes and see if people will stop smoking...it doesn't work. Let's focus on the real problems and ensure that our children will have a future in Michigan.