Gov. Jim Doyle asked lawmakers Monday to pass a statewide smoking ban before they adjourn for the year at the end of next week.
The bill would ban smoking in all public buildings, workplaces, restaurants and taverns.
The desire for smoke-free workplaces, restaurants and bars is running about 66 to 70 percent favorable in polling. The people of Wisconsin want this,"" said Sarah Briganti, spokesperson for state Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, one of the main authors of the bill.
Briganti said she was optimistic the bill could pass the Senate and that there is bipartisan support for it.
Twenty-two other states have passed smoke-free policies, according to Briganti.
State Rep. Steve Wieckert, R-Appleton, another supporter of the bill, said Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston, might want to alter the bill to allow for ""loopholes"" before it would pass.
These changes would include exemptions for certain businesses, according to Wieckert.
""We could probably pass the bill this session fairly easily if we had a lot of loopholes in it,"" he said. ""But if we have a lot of loopholes, then that kind of defeats the purpose of the bill.""
Wieckert said public health, equity for Wisconsin businesses and savings for taxpayers are all reasons the bill is needed.
According to the UW Paul P. Carbone Cancer Center, about 1,200 lung cancer and heart disease deaths are caused every year in Wisconsin by secondhand smoke.
Wisconsin loses $3 billion to health care costs and productivity losses caused by secondhand smoke, according to the UWCCC.
The Tavern League of Wisconsin has opposed a statewide smoking ban.
The Tavern League website lists 12 bars in Madison and eight in Appleton that went out of business after smoking bans in those cities were enacted.
Disparities still exist under the bill, according to a Tavern League analysis, including cities' ability to create stricter bans that would keep the law from being uniform.
State Sen. Roger Breske, D-Eland, a former tavern owner, is a lead opponent to the bill. He was unavailable for comment as of press time.
