Closer Yet

Just a vote and a signature away…

SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois House is set for a final showdown in the coming weeks over whether smoking should be banned in almost all the state’s indoor public places, including bars and restaurants.

A House panel voted 10-2 Thursday to move the proposed smoking ban to the full House, which has yet to debate it.

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This year, health concerns have so far guided the ban through the Senate, and House lawmakers could vote by the end of May. A House vote would be the last step before measure would go to Gov. Rod Blagojevich for a final decision.

Anyone know where Blagojevch stands on this? So far, I've been rather amazed at how easily the smoking legislation had gotten to this point. Just a few months ago I was hearing people say there was no way the Illinois legislature would pass anti-smoking laws. Now, we're nearly there.

Update: According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

"The governor's been supportive of public health initiatives in the past that deal with smoking," said Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff. "But we still need to take a closer look at the particulars of this bill."

I can’t imagine the governor not signing it, but that statement is pretty non-committal.