Smoking ban faces opposition

Tuesday, March 29, 2005 | 9:35 a.m.

DENVER -- A proposal to ban smoking in public places across Colorado is facing opposition from members of both parties in the Senate.

Republicans and Democratic Sen. Bob Hagedorn, D-Aurora, have lined up against the proposal from Sen. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, even though he hasn't introduced a bill yet.

Hagedorn said last week that such a law would affect so many people it's only fair to let voters decide.

"If the proponents don't think they have statewide support for this, then we shouldn't be voting on it," he said.

Grossman said he doesn't think a referendum would be a good idea since lawmakers already plan to ask voters about a proposed fix for the state's budget problems this fall. However he said he wouldn't rule it out.

Grossman and state Rep. Mark Larson, R-Cortez, got the endorsement of health care professionals, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and the Colorado Restaurant Association when they announced the proposal last week.

Grossman said the proposal is still being drafted and he's considering introducing it in the House first instead of the Senate.

Senate Minority Leader Mark Hillman, R-Burlington, said Senate Republicans view the ban as a property rights issue and they oppose forcing all businesses across the state to comply. He said some of his colleagues may support letting voters in a community decide on a local ban but that can already happen without the endorsement of state lawmakers.

"It just goes to show you that the other side is just as prone to moralize as we are," Hillman said.

Smoking is already banned in workplaces and restaurants or bars by at least 13 local governments around Colorado.

The proposal from Grossman and Larson would ban smoking in public meetings, elevators, mass transit, grocery stores, bars, casinos and three-fourths of the hotel rooms in the state.

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