Tuesday, April 8, 2003 | 9:50 a.m.
HELENA, Mont. -- A Senate committee on Monday overwhelmingly approved a bill exempting casinos from the kind of sweeping ban on smoking enacted by Helena voters last year.
By a 10-1 vote, the Business and Labor Committee sent the measure to the Senate floor for debate Thursday.
Supporters of House Bill 758 said it's needed to protect businesses from the assault on private property rights and profits that occurred when the ban was imposed.
Critics countered that the Helena ban is a legitimate exercise of local control over a public health issue, and lawmakers should respect the will of voters.
Sen. Glenn Roush, D-Cut Bank, said he feared that a restriction similar to Helena's could spread to rural areas such as his and affect the property rights of more business owners.
Sen. Vicki Cocchiarella, D-Missoula, said the ban undermines those people who have invested in Montana's traditional businesses dealing in drinking, gambling and smoking.
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