In a surprise move that could kill a proposed statewide smoking ban, a Senate committee on Wednesday voted to include casino floors.
Casinos had lobbied hard to win an exemption from the ban in the House of Representatives, but saw their work undone by a party-line vote of 4-3.
Democratic Sen. Dan Grossman, the sponsor of House Bill 1175, said while he supports banning smoking on casino floors, the inclusion means “we’re going to have a war.”
The power of the casino lobby may have the clout to kill the bill, he said.
“We did the right thing, but from a political perspective I think it puts the bill in jeopardy,” Grossman said.
Even if banning smoking in casinos dooms the bill, Grossman, D-Denver, said he will not support an exemption.
Most insiders didn’t think the casino exemption would be removed. Instead, attention was focused on bars and taverns.
A slew of service-industry professionals told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that the ban would put them out of business. But no amendment was offered to exempt them.
“We’re not going to fire our last bullet until we hope to hit a target,” said Chuck Ford, a lobbyist for the bars, adding he will work for an exemption on the Senate floor.
As it now stands, the bill exempts the Denver International Airport smoking lounge, cigar bars, smoke shops, small businesses and family farms.
Removing the casino exemption may open another battleground – conference committee. If the Senate version of the bill differs from the version the House passed, it is likely to go to a committee to work out the differences. That gives those looking for exemptions another place to lobby.
Democratic Sen. Bob Bacon said he pledged to support the bill without amendments to prevent it from going to conference.
But when the amendment to ban smoking in casinos was offered, Bacon said, he was moved to vote for it because exempting casinos would hurt bingo halls.
Since the bill looks to be headed to conference if passed by the Senate, Bacon said he would entertain the idea of exempting bars and taverns.
“The testimony is very compelling to me that we are driving out of business the people who don’t have the kind of clout in this place that others have,” Bacon said.
Staff writer Chris Frates can be reached at 303-820-1633 or cfrates@denverpost.com.
