Smoke-free Maryland Steps Forward

An update to this. Yesterday the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill requiring that Maryland restaurants and bars be smoke-free beginning in February 2008. The smoking ban includes private clubs. Governor Martin O'Malley has pledged to sign the smoking ban legislation.

The General Assembly ended its 90-day session ducking a few pressing issues: Maryland's looming budget deficit and the ongoing decline of the Chesapeake Bay chief among them. Other contentious issues - granting in-state tuition to the children of illegal immigrants and slot machines in Maryland - were deferred until next year. Bills to ban the death penalty and assault weapons were defeated. The tone of discourse seemed more pleasant now that Robert Ehrlich is gone.

That's it till next year.
K-