Madison smoking ban survives

The Capital Times reports:

By Lee Sensenbrenner

The Madison City Council decided early today to keep the ban on smoking in taverns intact and not go to a referendum on the issue.

The attempt to repeal the ban failed by a narrow margin - 9 for repeal to 10 against it. The Council rejected the plan to take the issue to the voters in a spring referendum, with only 5 votes for a referendum and 14 against.

A proposal to allow bars temporary hardship exemptions if they can prove that the ban has significantly hurt their business also was not approved, or acted upon, during the overnight meeting.

Speaker after speaker took the podium, four minutes at a time, alternately telling those dozing around them in the Council chambers that it was about paying bills, or it was about health, or it was about being an American and making your own choices.

For Madison decision makers, the issue appears finally to be over. For those fighting the ban, the next step they pledged was to push for less restrictive statewide smoking rules, although Gov. Jim Doyle has said he is resistant to the idea.

The pro-smokers could have waited until some people on the other side were out in the hall or on a bathroom break and then held the vote, but apparently they haven't adopted the methods used down the street in the Capitol, where Assembly Republicans closed the roll on a veto before Democrat Pedro Colon could cast the deciding vote.

On another note: Austin, Texas -- "Live Music Capital of the World" -- has had a smoking ban in effect since Sept. 1, and although it was contentious there, too, it is an amazing experience to enjoy some of that live music in a smoke-free environment. Austin's weather is more conducive than Madison's to year-round outdoor smoking, 'tis true. But the cities have a lot in common otherwise, as state capitals with major universities and a disproportionate number of young smokers. As Madison and Austin go, so goes the nation. Or so goes East Lansing? Berkeley? Whatever.