Cancer Society Doesn't Like Smoker's Shack Bill

One of the 62 amendments attached to the House bill to revise the state budget last Thursday would allow bar and restaurant owners to build "smoking shacks" outside of their buildings for customers who want to light up and not suffer the elements. The American Cancer Society said it doesn't like the smoking shack bill which was apparently added on late Thursday night as debate on the budget bill wound down. House lawmakers spent 14 hours on the budget bill and approved it at 2:30am Friday morning. Cancer Society spokesman Mike Maguire said the smoking shack bill will weaken the Freedom to Breath Act and is bad public policy. Maguire said he hopes it is defeated in the House/Senate conference committee. The smoking shack bill passed the House 73-59.