Maybe I was wrong or too harsh on the Michigan Repugnants in the Senate....looks like they had showing up the House hypocrisy in mind.

From a michigan blog....

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Michigan Dems seeing the (neon) light on smoking ban?
By RightMichigan.com Posted in *cough* *cough* | Breaking News | Democrats | job-killers | Michigan | smoking ban | www.RightMichigan.com — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Cross-posted on Right Michigan at www.RightMichigan.com.
Talk about a role-reversal. Not too long ago the Michigan Senate approved a statewide ban on smoking in bars, restaurants, bingo parlors... pretty much anywhere you might find a stranger. Second hand smoke is a killer, they reminded us, and just because smoking is legal and a gorgeous cash cow for the state treasury doesn't mean you should actually be allowed to smoke.

That was the Senate. The Republican controlled Senate. That said, all but one of the votes against the ban came from the GOP delegation so not everyone lost their minds on the issue, but it only takes two or three. All but one Democrat voted in the affirmative.

Enter the House of Representatives. You know, bicameral legislature, that whole deal. After a pretty good sized delay the bill finally made it's way across the hall at the Capitol where... drum roll please... absolutely nothing has happened yet. The hold up? Some House Democrats are worried that banning smoking in bingo parlors and the Detroit casinos will KILL JOBS! (All caps is still the text equivalent of screaming, right?) The Detroit News reports:



Rep. Bert Johnson, D-Detroit, is among those who oppose the harsher Senate version. He said he fears it would hurt business and cause layoffs at the Detroit casinos...
"It's about jobs," Johnson said. "I have people at home who get hurt when (Detroit's) casinos are threatened."


Brenda Clack, who heads up the Black Caucus all the way from Flint echoes the same concerns on behalf of her members, most from Detroit.

Consistency is increasingly difficult these days, especially in Lansing but I can't help but wonder how the good Representatives from Detroit justify banning smoking in any private business establishment if they understand, as evident from Representative Johnson's statements, that doing so would kill jobs. It's not like Casinos exist in some magical fairy land and cigarette ashes are pixie dust. There's nothing special or unique about them in the context of customer nicotine habits.

Then again, I could be over thinking things. I suppose it's possible that there are entire House districts in Detroit entirely devoid of restaurants, clubs and bowling alleys. It's possible I've been wrong all along and Johnson is 100% consistent in his position. Maybe he doesn't have any constituents who employ people but has plenty whose employment depends on Casino gaming. And if that's the case I sincerely apologize.

More likely, this is your basic lefty double-speak... saying one thing but doing another. Looking out for big business but ignoring the little guys. Wait, isn't that the GOP stereotype? See? Role reversal.

So, novel concept, how about we all get on the same page and stop doing things that kill jobs. Heaven knows the State could use a dollop of common sense. Especially with our unemployment rate dropping two tenths of a point to a new, lower, 6.9%.

Yeah, you read that right. Especially with it dropping. Because as the Ivory Tower reports:



...The underlying news isn't good.
The rate dropped mainly because Michigan's civilian labor force is shrinking and included about 15,000 fewer people overall last month than in March. About 2,000 fewer people were employed last month...

The total number of seasonally adjusted payroll jobs in Michigan fell by about 19,000, to just less than 4.2 million.

Michigan reported job gains in government and professional and business services. Each of those segments picked up 3,000 jobs in April.


Phwew! At least government's growing again. Other than that, yikes. You know you had a rough month when 15,000 people just plain gave up. 19,000 fewer jobs, 15,000 fewer job seekers but government on the rise. Only in Michigan. Literally.

But the papers aren't completely devoid of good news for workers in-State. The Lansing State Journal reports that the Capitol City's own four-week-long automotive labor strike might be over soon.



The tentative deal came a day after GM canceled company health insurance and other benefits for the 2,300 workers represented by UAW Local 602. The workers walked off their jobs in a dispute over local contract issues.
The Detroit automaker canceled the benefits for the duration of the strike, which began April 17.

However, UAW officials said the strikers still will receive health benefits through a union-funded plan. While it will cover most medical needs, the UAW plan doesn't have vision or dental coverage.


Well done, negotiating team. Good job, union guys. Tonight you should go celebrate. Grab a brew and spark one up. While you still can. Guarantee your favorite pub isn't on Bert Johnson's safe list.

For the latest Michigan political news and commentary from the RIGHT perspective, make Right Michigan your first click of the morning at www.RightMichigan.com.

Here's a poll to vote on the Michigan ban

Michigan Ban Poll

Results so far:

Would you like to see a workplace smoking ban in Michigan?
• Yes, but with some exemptions
0%
• Yes, but with no exemptions
9%
• I don't know
9%
• No, leave it up to business owners
81%
Total Votes: 11

Stalemate continues over Michigan smoking Ban
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The stalemate over Michigan's proposed workplace, bar and restaurant smoking ban continues.

The state House again passed a bill, by a 65-39 vote, that bans workplace smoking except at casinos, bingo halls, tobacco stores and horse racing tracks. It's at odds with a Senate-approved version that bans smoking inside all workplaces.

There can't be a new smoking ban law until the Democrat-led House and Republican-led Senate come to agreement on what it covers.

But backers of the workplace smoking ban are hopeful some sort of agreement will be reached and were encouraged by Wednesday's vote. The Michigan Campaign for Smokefree Air wants a version like the Senate's, including a complete ban.

"We have the momentum," said Emily Gerkin Palsrok, a spokeswoman for the campaign. "We have the tide swinging in our favor. But we're not happy with the exemptions."

Casinos are the key sticking point. Detroit casinos don't want a smoking ban to include them because they feel it would put them at a competitive disadvantage compared to tribal or out-of-state casinos not covered by the ban.

"The indications are there would be a real financial hit to the city and the casinos if we do this," said House Speaker Andy Dillon, a Democrat from Wayne County's Redford Township. "The exceptions that are included in this bill are pretty minor in the scope of things."

Dillon said there's momentum for the House version of the ban. The margin of approval was higher than when the same legislation passed the House in December by a 56-46 vote.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, a Rochester Republican, said he will consider the latest House legislation. But he said he does not favor creating "smoking islands" at certain businesses while others are forced to ban smoking.

"Either you have a ban or you don't have a ban," Bishop said.

More than 30 states have adopted some type of a workplace smoking ban, although some exempt bars, restaurants and casinos.