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Smoking in workplace to be discussed

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The Madison City Council will continue to debate a controversial ban on smoking in the workplace tonight.

The ban will include all educational facilities, but not UW-Madison.

The council, which on Nov. 6 banned smoking in common areas of apartment buildings such as laundry rooms and hallways, will vote on whether to ban smoking in all workplaces, including small businesses.

Most alders agree that some regulations on smoking are necessary, but they are divided on how restrictive the ordinance should be.

Ald. Jean MacCubbin, District 11, is the main sponsor of the ordinance.

“My intent is that people can work in a smoke-free environment.” MacCubbin said. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he expects heated debate and a close vote. “It’s kind of a big deal,” he said. “This would be the most restrictive policy in the whole Midwest.” Ald. Santiago Rosas, District 17, said the ordinance goes overboard. “I do support a clean environment,” Rosas said. “But we’ve been working on this to a point that is no longer in the public good … it dictates to residents what they should or should not do.” The ban does not include exemptions for bars or small businesses, which would incorporate realtors or consultants who work from their homes. “This is going way overboard, and I object to that,” Rosas said. “Tell me, where do we draw the line?” An amendment to the council’s resolution on the war in Afghanistan is expected to be discussed in order to make it less controversial. Verveer said his guest-policy ordinance should also come to a vote. The ordinance will stop landlords from specifying the amount of guests a tenant can have and what times they can have guests.