Smoking Ban
For those who need it, here's background on H2, the proposed North Carolina smoking ban. The House is due to start debating the bill within the five o'clock hour.
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Update: For those who don't want to wade through the live blog, here's the early AP summary of the vote on the smoking ban bill:
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Lawmakers in the North Carolina House have tentatively passed a measure that would ban smoking from restaurants and other workplaces that admit childrenLawmakers voted 75-42 in favor of the ban on Wednesday after the measure was changed to allow smoking in businesses that don't employ or serve anyone under age 18.
Democratic Rep. Nelson Cole of Rockingham County succeeded in easing restrictions that would have outlawed smoking in any workplace.
Supporters of the stricter ban said the change negates their efforts to protect waiters and other workers from inhaling secondhand smoke.
It should be noted the House will have to give the measure a final vote tomorrow (Thursday) before the bill travels to the Senate. I'll have more on the blog later tonight and in the paper tomorrow.
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The window below will carry live tweets from my Twitter account giving updates on the bill's progress.
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