BLOOMINGTON (IL) -- On Monday, the Bloomington, Illinois City Council voted 5-4 in favor of comprehensive smokefree workplace legislation, including restaurants and bars.

The legislation mirrors the recent law passed in Normal, Illinois, except that Normal's law also includes outdoor parks and concerts. Bloomington Aldermen Kevin Huette, Skip Crawford, Mike Matejka and John Hanson voted in favor of the comprehensive proposal with the outdoor exemption, pushing the issue to a tie. Mayor Steve Stockton cast the tie-breaking vote to approve the proposal. The law will go into effect Jan. 1, 2007, the same day as the one approved by the Normal City Council. “Out of all the compromises proposed, the outdoor exemption was the only one we could agree to,” said Dr. John Krueger from a local coalition lobbying for the smokefree law. The Normal City Council took the extra step by adding outdoor public assemblies, he added.

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