Subscribe to Cigar Rights of America RSS feeds and get the most up-to-date cigar-related legislative news for Michigan. http://www.cigarrights.org/xml/news/news_MI.xml http://www.cigarrights.org/favicon.ico http://www.cigarrights.org/images/CRA08small.jpg en-us JAN 26 - GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan -- The hottest issue in the state last year is unlikely to go away: Should smoking be banned in the workplace? State Rep. Paul Scott, R-Grand Blanc, just filed a bill in the state Legislature that would forbid smoking wherever people are employed, with no exceptions. Not that he has anything against smokers. "It's not anti-smoker," Scott said. "It's everything to do with protecting nonsmokers from contracting cancer against their will." The bill would continue the work of former Rep. Brenda Clack, D-Flint, who led a charge for a statewide smoking ban last year that failed by six votes. Unlike Clack's bill, Scott's measure does not allow exceptions for casinos and cigar bars, which is likely to be unpopular in the Democrat-controlled House. But both Scott and Clack said they believe a bill will pass this time, possibly by the summer session. http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/01/as_smoking_ban_battle_again_he.html Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:34 -0800 Michigan LANSING, Michigan, JAN 16 — Jamal "Jay" Ghoneim, owner of Smoker's Kastle in Burton, said his customers come into his tobacco store and lounge for one reason. "Everyone knows everyone. It's like 'Cheers.' No one's offending," he said. The social atmosphere of Smoker's Kastle may change however, if a bill soon to be introduced in the state House of Representatives makes it to Gov. Jennifer Granholm's desk: It would ban smoking in all public places without exception. Rep. Paul Scott, R-Grand Blanc, is making the smoke ban bill his first piece of legislation, along with a bill that would repeal the Michigan Business Tax surcharge. The smoke-free bill is expected to be introduced to the House on Thursday. Scott, whose campaign focused mostly on the economy, said he chose to introduce the smoking ban because of concerns he heard from constituents. "It's a health issue," Scott said. "People are dying from secondhand smoke. There's no doubt about it. I don't understand how you can make exceptions when it comes to public health. If you agree this is a public health issue, you can't then turn around and say we're going to make exceptions for people to be contracting cancer." http://www.mlive.com/grandblanc/index.ssf/2009/01/smoke_ban_bill_is_paul_scotts.html Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:23 -0800 Michigan HURON COUNTY, MAR 20 — After an informal polling of the board, county commissioners agreed to craft a smoking policy that's not entirely smoke-free for some county-owned property. There would be smoking allowed outdoors, with the exception of certain areas near entrances, and the policy would only be applicable to the County Building, not other county-owned property like county parks. “A county-wide ban would be practically unenforceable,” said Commissioner Chairman Ron Wruble during the board's meeting of the whole Tuesday. http://www.michigansthumb.com/articles/2009/03/23/news/local_news/doc49c3b10b51681663817778.txt Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:39 -0800 Michigan LANSING, MAR 18 -- Yet another legislative debate over banning workplace smoking in Michigan has been kicked off with no certainty that it will end any differently than the last one. A smoking ban that would include bars and restaurants died last year when lawmakers couldn't agree whether to exempt casinos, cigar bars and tobacco specialty shops. New bills that are conflicted over the same issue received their first hearing of the year Wednesday in the House Regulatory Reform Committee. http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/03/michigan_state_house_takes_up.html Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:16 -0800 Michigan LANSING, MAR 18 – A renewed effort to ban smoking in Michigan restaurants, bars and all public places will get a hearing at noon before a House committee. There's no legislation pending, and the meeting is meant to reopen the debate, said Rep. Bert Johnson, D-Detroit, chairman of the House Regulatory Reform Committee. “We're going to do something and do it practically and reasonably,” Johnson said. “I hope we can be on one page. I want to let the public know that this Legislature is serious about passing a workplace smoking ban.” http://www.freep.com/article/20090223/NEWS06/902230361 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:11 -0800 Michigan APR 28 - State Sen. Tupac Hunter, D-Detroit, has proposed a well-worn solution to the legislative logjam on a workplace smoking ban in Michigan: Let voters decide the issue for themselves. But the reason we send representatives to Lansing is to make these sorts of decisions, not to kick the can back to the people. Republicans say nothing less than a full ban would be fair, while Democrats seek exceptions for bingo halls, smoke shops and the Detroit casinos. If Hunter's legislative referendum is passed by both the House and Senate and signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a full ban on workplace smoking will be presented to voters on the November 2010 statewide ballot. If passed, it will become part of the Michigan Constitution. http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200904120650/NEWS18/904120313 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 3:04 -0800 Michigan APR 23 - Hundreds of students and other concerned citizens gathered Thursday at the Capitol steps to lobby for legislation to ban smoking in Michigan workplaces. The health care rally was organized by the American Medical Student Association, or AMSA , Student Osteopathic Medical Association and the MSU College of Human Medicine. The rally's main purpose was to voice support for House Bill No. 4341, an anti-smoking bill that has become known as the Clean Air Bill. http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2009/04/med_students_rally_for_anti-smoking_laws Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:23 -0800 Michigan APR 12 - The polls are clear, people are screaming for a smoking ban, State Senator Gilda Jacobs (D-Ferndale) said. “If we need a compromise and remove casinos from the ban right now, and then re-examine that part later, then do it. But let's get 90 percent of this done,” Jacobs continued. Jacobs was referring to the legislature's delay last week of a proposed statewide smoking ban. “One of the major hits to the economy is health care costs, with a ban we can do something to directly impact this,” she said. http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200904120650/NEWS18/904120313 Sun, 12 Apr 2009 02:47 -0800 Michigan Lansing, APR 8 -- Advocates of a workplace smoking ban in Michigan will have to wait at least a few more months for the issue to return in the Legislature. House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, said he has decided the House should zero in this spring on balancing the cash-strapped budget and creating jobs in the wounded economy. "The smoking ban is an important issue, but jobs and the budget are more important right now," Dillon said. "I see us getting back to the smoking issue by summer." http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090408/POLITICS02/904080367 Wed, 8 Apr 2009 05:17 -0800 Michigan LANSING, MAY 26 – The Michigan House voted today to ban smoking in workplaces including bars and restaurants, but allow it on gambling floors at Detroit's three casinos, cigar bars and specialty smoke shops. The 73-31 vote set up another faceoff with the Senate, which last year voted for a total smoking ban, no exceptions. The smoking ban remains a hot issue, led by anti-smoking advocates encouraged by smoking bans approved in recent weeks in Wisconsin and North Carolina, a tobacco industry state where a smoking ban was once unimaginable. http://www.freep.com/article/20090526/NEWS06/90526083/House+OKs+smoking+ban++but+not+in+casinos Tue, 26 May 2009 11:37 -0800 Michigan JUN 7 - Sitting on opposite ends of the bar Thursday evening inside Canton's Rusty Nail Lounge on Ford Road, patrons Ryan Roberts and Randi Tinglan couldn't be further divided over a workplace smoking ban that could include bars and restaurants. The state House has approved a ban that still faces a decision by Michigan senators. “I'm against it. I don't feel they should take that liberty away from us,” Roberts, a 22-year-old Ypsilanti resident and smoker, said just a few hours before Thursday's Red Wings hockey game. http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200906070650/NEWS03/906070463 Sun, 7 June 2009 04:44 -0800 Michigan JUN 4 - Michigan's House of Representatives took another step toward making the state smoke-free by approving legislation to ban smoking in most public spaces. Rep. Paul Scott, a leading proponent to make Michigan smoke-free, voted in favor of House Bill 4377. The measure bans smoking in public places, but exempts casino gaming floors, cigar bars and specialty tobacco stores. Thirty-seven states currently have some form of smoking ban. "Although a smoking ban without exemptions is ideal, this measure is a vast improvement on current law and will make great strides to keep Michigan residents healthy," said Scott, a Republican from Grand Blanc. http://www.tctimes.com/articles/2009/06/07/news/doc4a26764237cba788556737.txt Thu, 4 June 2009 09:43 -0800 Michigan State Rep. Matt Lori is working with a bipartisan group of House lawmakers to figure out a new strategy for getting a smoking ban signed into law. Earlier this year, the House approved legislation to ban smoking in most public places, including bars and restaurants, but that plan has since stalled in the Senate because it exempts casino gambling floors, cigar bars and tobacco shops from the proposed ban. http://www.wlkm.com/?p=8290 27 Oct 2009 11:11 -0800 Michigan A workplace smoking ban — with exemptions for Detroit casino gaming operations, cigar bars and tobacco specialty retail stores — is on its way to Gov. Jennifer Granholm for signing, after clearing its final legislative hurdle Thursday afternoon. The state House concurred with the Senate’s passage of the bill earlier in the afternoon and sent it on to Granholm for her expected signature. House Bill 4377, sponsored by Lee Gonzalez, D-Flint, would take effect May 1 and would prohibit smoking in nearly all workplaces, including bars and restaurants. http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20091210/FREE/912109993# 10 Dec 2009 11:11 -0800 Michigan LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Legislature passed a long-delayed smoking ban Thursday, with exceptions for three Detroit casinos that have to compete with tribal casinos not affected by the ban. The Democrat-led House agreed Thursday afternoon to slight changes made by the Republican-led Senate earlier in the day. The bill now goes to Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who welcomed the bill's passage. "It's a terrific gift to Michigan," she told reporters. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jKxvHHwwvJG77hma363IvkN8CzxQD9CGNQB00 10 Dec 2009 11:11 -0800 Michigan Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson retreated from a legal battle over a smoking ban this afternoon. Early this morning, he said he was suing the state over the smoking ban in restaurants and bars, that was set to take effect May 1. But six hours later, after receiving about 100 phone calls and e-mails opposing his position, he reversed himself and said he was withdrawing the lawsuit filed with the Michigan Court of Appeals. http://www.freep.com/article/201004150919/NEWS03/100415019 15 Apr 2010 11:11 -0800 Michigan On May 1st, the Dr. Ron Davis Smoke Free Air Law came into effect. It is a law that was established to protect Michigan’s residents and visitors from secondhand smoke in all restaurants, bars and businesses which include hotels and motels. Two weeks into the implementation of the law and people have mixed reactions about it. “It hasn’t made much of a difference to me,” John Martin, an English literature major at Eastern said. “I don’t mind having to come out for a smoke in general, since the places I visit often already had the no smoking policy in place. It’s definitely inconvenient to have the law apply to bars though, since many people enjoy a smoke with their drink. It’s a hassle to have to go out for a smoke.” http://www.easternecho.com/index.php/article/2010/05/smoking_ban_met_with_mixed_reviews 17 May 2010 11:11 -0800 Michigan LANSING, Mich. -- Some restaurant, bar and private club owners are calling for a one-day boycott of some Michigan Lottery products to protest the state's recently enacted smoking ban. An event billed on Facebook as the Michigan Lottery Boycott calls for those businesses to not sell certain lottery products from 11 a.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday. The boycott could affect sales of Keno, pull tabs and other games. http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/23896833/detail.html 14 Jun 2010 11:11 -0800 Michigan But since Michigan's smoking ban went into effect May 1, Natalie Samu, the soon-to-be ex-owner of the bar, has just one or two waitresses serving the dwindling crowd. "Our business is down over 50%," said Samu, who sold the bar earlier this month but will stay on as manager. "I know things go down in the summer, but it's never been this bad." http://www.freep.com/article/20100819/NEWS06/8190447/1322/Smoking-ban-dries-up-business 19 Aug 2010 11:11 -0800 Michigan Five months after Michigan's controversial smoking ban took effect, bar owners are rallying statewide to reverse a law they say is killing business. A group called Protect Private Property Rights in Michigan-Amend Michigan Smoking Ban has about 3,000 members and has led a lottery boycott on Fridays. The group -- and others complaining about the bill -- point to records showing Club Keno sales have shrunk $21.5 million during the first three months of the ban, while liquor sales at bars and restaurants are down $1.8 billion. http://www.detnews.com/article/20100925/METRO/9250373/Smoking-ban-opponents-still-all-fired-up 25 Sep 2010 11:11 -0800 Michigan Well I wasn’t intending to touch on this topic again quite so soon but a couple of things came to my attention this week so I just felt the need to do it. No, I’m not trying to beat a dead horse here but the ban on smoking in bars and restaurants still irks me and a lot of others too, including the Bloomfield Hills-based group, Protect Private Property Rights in Michigan. http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2010/12/25/opinion/doc4d13e8c9ecd90763977691.txt 25 Dec 2010 11:11 -0800 Michigan Some Michigan bar and restaurant owners say they've been so burned by Michigan's smoking ban they'll let patrons light up on New Year's Eve in protest. "(Business owners) have had enough," said Stephen Mace, spokesman for Protect Private Property Rights in Michigan, a group that represents about 300 establishments. "Why are we taking the decision-making away from adults? I don't understand it. The bar owners are losing money. Enough is enough." http://www.detnews.com/article/20101223/METRO/12230402/Small-bar-owners-fuming-over-losses-under-state-smoking-ban 23 Dec 2010 11:11 -0800 Michigan An Upper Peninsula judge has dismissed the lawsuit filed by a Baraga American Legion post seeking to bar enforcement of Michigan’s ban on smoking in its Baraga tavern. Baraga County Circuit Judge Charles Goodman, in an opinion issued two days before Christmas, denied a request by the Foucault-Funke Post 444 to declare its premises not subject to the law under the casino exemption, because its patrons play pull tab games. Goodman also made permanent an injunction he issued in October authorizing the Michigan Department of Community Health to enforce the ban at the post. http://www.freep.com/article/20101228/NEWS06/101228026/1319/UP-tavern-loses-bid-to-defy-states-public-smoking-ban 28 Dec 2010 11:11 -0800 Michigan State officials "report the (smoking) ban — which began May 1 — hasn't hurt business," reports The Detroit News in its Dec. 23 article, "Small-bar owners fuming over losses."That couldn't be more inaccurate and shows that state officials don't know what is going on in their own jurisdiction. A better measurement of the effect the smoking ban has had on on-premise liquor sales is to go to the state's MLCC site and look up the amount of liquor sales made to on-premise establishments in 2009 versus the first 11 and a half months of 2010. http://www.detnews.com/article/20110121/OPINION01/101210330/1008/OPINION01/Letter--Smoking-ban-has-hurt-business 21 Jan 2011 11:11 -0800 Michigan SAGINAW COUNTY, Mich. -- The smoking ban went into effect May 1, but that's not stopping some people. Even with "No Smoking" signs clearly posted, some bars are letting the patrons run the pub. The I-TEAM went undercover to observe whether customers and businesses abided by the new law. http://www.wnem.com/news/26949060/detail.html 23 Feb 2011 11:11 -0800 Michigan The smoking ban went into effect May 1, but that’s not stopping some people — tonight at 11 the I-TEAM will show you which bars are letting patrons blow smoke in the face of the law. “Tonight At 11: TV5 Goes Undercover To Catch Smoking Ban Violators” is categorized as “local”. This video was licensed from Grab Networks. For additional video content, click the “video” tab at the top of this page. http://www.americanconsumernews.com/2011/02/tonight-at-11-tv5-goes-undercover-to-catch-smoking-ban-violators.html 21 Feb 2011 11:11 -0800 Michigan Boyd Cottrell says his Warren bar, complete with lottery machines, is no different from the Detroit casinos. But his patrons at Sporty O'Toole's can't smoke while they gamble, he says, unlike casino patrons, because of Michigan's smoking ban that took effect May 1. Gaming floors at Detroit casinos are exempt from the ban. http://www.freep.com/article/20110405/NEWS04/104050408/1056/SPORTS08/Warren-bar-owner-sues-over-smoking-ban?odyssey=nav%7Chead 4 Apr 2011 11:11 -0800 Michigan The public will breathe a little easier, knowing the Birmingham City Commission is taking extra precautions in reviewing a bistro plan for Churchill's Cigar Bar. On Monday, the commission spent about an hour reviewing the proposal before postponing any action until April 25. The commission in particular wants to make sure the establishment has an adequate ventilation system that not only provides fresh air for customers inside the bistro, but also the surrounding area. http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20110417/NEWS02/104170314 17 Apr 2011 11:11 -0800 Michigan Mount Clemens— A Macomb County bar owner is taking his battle over the constitutionality of the state's smoking ban to the state's appeals court. The attorney for Boyd Cottrell, owner of the Warren bar Sporty O'Toole's, filed an appeal Thursday with the state Court of Appeals a few weeks after a Macomb County Circuit judge denied Cottrell's request to declare the law unconstitutional. hhttp://www.detnews.com/article/20110510/METRO03/105100431/1412/METRO03/Warren-bar-owner-appeals-in-smoking-ban-fight 10 May 2011 11:11 -0800 Michigan Lansing— Smoking is down, but not gone from Michigan's restaurants and bars. There were almost 1,500 smoking violations recorded in the first year of the state's public smoking ban, according to a survey of local health departments conducted by the Michigan Department of Community Health and released today. http://detnews.com/article/20110519/LIFESTYLE03/105190462/1409/rss36 19 May 2011 11:11 -0800 Michigan Local television reporters could be seen shooting footage outside the Copper Door Tuesday after the news broke that the Westland bar had the dubious honor of being the first establishment closed for violating Michigan's ban on smoking inside public buildings. The Wayne County Health Department ordered the bar, located on Inkster Road just south of Joy, closed for 24 hours after a health official spotted a patron smoking at the bar Friday evening. http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20110609/NEWS24/106090573/1041/rss22 9 Jun 2011 11:11 -0800 Michigan More than a year after Michigan’s Dr. Ron Davis Smoke-Free Air Law was adopted, some state lawmakers have introduced legislation that once again would allow smoking in East Lansing bars and restaurants. Four separate bills have been introduced by state Reps. Doug Geiss, D-Taylor, Tom McMillin, R–Rochester Hills, and Tim Melton, D-Pontiac, as well as state Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, that would allow smoking in Michigan businesses in either smoking rooms, on outdoor patios or in licensed clubs, including veterans’ organizations. http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2011/06/new_legislation_to_be_introduced_to_amend_smokefree_air_law 22 Jun 2011 11:11 -0800 Michigan On July 1, and without much of a fuss, the University campus became smoke free. Taking a page out of the nanny state constitution, it seems that the University believes personal choice is subordinate to the lifestyle they want to instill in their students. With the smoking ban, the University has created an imperious policy that infringes on the rights of the individual. http://www.michigandaily.com/opinion/daily-smoking-ban 10 Jul 2011 11:11 -0800 Michigan Dave Karlson said sales at the All Around Bar in Taylor are down 45%, he's had to lay off 40% of his approximately 13 employees and his remaining employees have taken a voluntary pay cut. All are effects of the state's smoking ban, which took effect May 1, 2010, said Karlson, who also has cut bar hours in half. "I want to make the decisions over my own property. If I want a non-smoking establishment, I should have that. If I want a smoking establishment, I should have that," Karlson said. http://www.freep.com/article/20110814/NEWS05/108140477/1001/rss01 14 Aug 2011 11:11 -0800 Michigan Over 500 bar owners in Michigan are striking back at their oppressors. They've banded together, and instituted a ban on lawmakers entering their establishments. Bars have been hurting across the state since the public smoking ban went into effect last year, and Steve Mace, with Protect Private Property Rights in Michigan, tells us that state lawmakers responsible for the policy aren't welcome at many establishments now: http://www.wsjm.com/Bars-Planning-To-Ban-Lawmakers-From-Being-Served-A/10712390 23 Aug 2011 11:11 -0800 Michigan Small bar owners angered over losing their butts to the statewide indoor smoking ban plan to give lawmakers the boot. A newly formed group, Protect Private Property Rights in Michigan (PPPRM), has organized an effort to ban lawmakers from their establishments in protest against Michigan's smoking ban. This lawmaker ban is scheduled to start Sept. 1. PPPRM, which claims to have a membership of about 500 businesses, argues that the smoking ban has been disastrous for Michigan's small bar owners and their employees. http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/15622 24 Aug 2011 11:11 -0800 Michigan I am writing in hopes that Michigan lawmakers will kindly consider amending the smoking ban. I am a bar owner and am suffering huge losses, as well as the state is suffering losses. My gross revenue from Keno sales is down from over $30,000 to around $13,000, mostly because of the smoking ban. My gross revenue from alcohol sales and food sales is down over 50 percent. I have now painted a sign on the front of my building offering "free pool." I have had to resort to running pool leagues six nights a week just to try to bring in enough businesses to help me try to break even, keep my business open and keep my employees working. http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20110918/OPINION03/109180305 17 Sep 2011 11:11 -0800 Michigan 'At this rate, I could be out of business by next week' Bar owner Boyd Cottrell said it’s bad enough he’s losing loads of money due to a state ban on smoking in bars, but over the weekend someone broke into his safe at Sporty O’Toole’s Bar & Grill in Warren and stole more than $4,200. http://macombdaily.com/articles/2011/11/21/news/doc4ecb294d155dd826111676.txt 21 Nov 2011 11:11 -0800 Michigan A new state report found that sales in bars that serve food declined in the first year of Michigan's smoking ban, but doesn't shed light on whether more people are smoking and drinking at home, state Department of Treasury officials said. The department's report, issued in December, was based on sales-tax revenue and actual sales in bars, restaurants, nightclubs and hotel dining rooms, and is not intended to be a full barometer of whether the ban is hampering businesses. http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20120123/NEWS01/201230308/1002/rss01 23 Jan 2012 11:11 -0800 Michigan