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Statewide Anti-Smoking Legislation A Nonstarter In 2014

Statewide anti-smoking legislation is dead in the state House and, according to Sen. Julie Denton, the Senate companion measure is “on life support.”

Support for the House smoking ban bill collapsed last week. Now, Denton, the sponsor of the Senate anti-smoking bill, says the odds are slim that her legislation will go anywhere this session.

At a committee meeting Wednesday, Denton told reporters supporters may have to consider compromise measures that could make the legislation more palatable in the future.

"One of the discussions that I had with folks was to make it an opt out bill, that there is a smoking ban in Kentucky unless your city or county opts out of the ban," Denton said.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo says the companion measure in the House slowly lost steam as lawmakers were reticent to take up such a sweeping bill in an election year.

The bills would have banned smoking in shared public spaces and places of employment.

Josh James fell in love with college radio at Western Kentucky University's student station, New Rock 92 (now Revolution 91.7). After working as a DJ and program director, he knew he wanted to come home to Lexington and try his hand in public radio.
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