Residents of Marshfield — the latest community to take up
local smoking ordinances following the state Legislature’s failure to address a
statewide ban this session — voted Tuesday to ban smoking in bars and
restaurants in their city.

“We’re very happy tonight,” said Breathe Free Marshfield
Chairman Dave Wille. “We’ve worked hard at this since last fall. Marshfield,
with the Marshfield clinic, of all places should keep the community smoke
free.”

Since both sides felt strongly about the issue, Wille said
they got a lot of new voters and voters who have not voted in a long time
coming to the polls.

“We are having a big turnout,” Wille said. “I think this
issue has overshadowed some of the other items, such as the mayor race.”

The Middleton City Council referred an ordinance to be
drafted by the city attorney Tuesday night that would expand its current
smoking ordinances to include taverns, according to Ald. James Wexler, District
4.

“I think there is overwhelming public support to cover all
the business. We see it happening all over in other Dane County communities,”
Wexler said. “I am a very strong supporter in moving in this direction, but
it’s important that we are also working with the business community to make
sure it is effective and not impose an unnecessary hardship. But the public
interest and health is the greatest concern.”

A smoking ban went into effect Tuesday in the neighboring
community of Fitchburg, but some businesses will have a three-year exemption.

General Manager Jason Cushman of Monkeyshines Bar said the
exemption is nice, but he opposes smoking bans.

“It’ll help our business in the short term, but by 2011, I
suspect there will be a statewide smoking ban,” Cushman said. “I think it’s
wrong because it’s something that they haven’t made illegal nationwide. How can
you outlaw that in a private business?”

Executive Director for Smoke Free Wisconsin Maureen
Busalacchi said she thinks the ban will be a wonderful thing for the majority
of the community.

“We’re always glad to see smoke free air laws go into effect.
It’s a little disappointing that they exempted some businesses until 2011,”
Busalacchi said.

A statewide smoking ban was proposed in the Legislature in
both houses, but the opposing sides failed to reach a compromise after much
debate before the end of business this session. This leads many communities to
take action on this issue individually, according to Wille.

“What you’re seeing in cities like Marshfield is a result of
the state not taking action,” Wille said. “Communities are stepping up and taking
the bull by the horns.”

Busalacchi thinks the Legislature should still address the
issue before their recess.

“They really aren’t done until May. They still have some
days on the calendar, and I see no reason for the legislators to go home
without dealing with this issue,” Busalacchi said.

Opponents of the ban, such as the Tavern League of Wisconsin
Executive Director Pete Madland, say the ban hurts
small businesses because it takes away their control of how to run their
establishment and will result in declining sales.?

“Every state where there is a smoking ban, bars go out of
business,” Madland said. “We feel that our members should be able to run their
businesses as they see fit.”

According to Busalacchi, 33 municipalities in Wisconsin have
some sort of smoke free ordinance.?
Cities such as Madison, Appleton and recently Eau Claire have adopted
complete workplace bans, though Eau Claire’s does not take effect until July 1.?

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— Beth Mueller
contributed to this report.