Despite pleas from several dozen small-tavern owners who say the statewide smoking ban is putting them out of business, a Senate panel Monday refused to offer an exemption.
A House committee, however, approved a measure to allow smoking in assisted-living facilities, saying the ban is unfair to people confined to their rooms.
The Senate state affairs committee voted 3-2 Monday against Senate Bill 103 by Sen. Lois Tochtrop, D-Thornton, to let bars spend $500 for a smoking license.
More than 30 people testified in support of the proposal, mostly small-tavern owners who say they’ve lost business since the ban took effect in July.
Among them was Michael Young, owner of Knob Hill Lounge in Colorado Springs. Young said he is about to serve his third tour of duty in Iraq and his “biggest concern is that while I am there the doors will close.”
Committee chairman and Senate President pro tem Peter Groff, D-Denver, said he agrees that the smoking ban is unfair because it exempts cigar bars and casinos.
“We need to spend time bringing them into the ban instead of exempting them,” he said.
Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, is sponsoring SB 1269, to extend the ban to casinos.
The assisted-living facility exemption is in HB 1196, by House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker. It was approved Monday by the Health and Human Services Committee and sent to the full House for debate.
Capitol bureau chief Jeri Clausing can be reached at 303-954-1555 or at jclausing@denverpost.com.
