LANSING MI — A bill that many thought was dead has passed in the Michigan Senate. By a vote of 25-12, lawmakers approved the measure to prohibit smoking in all bars, restaurants and workplaces.

Thursday’s vote was somewhat of a surprise because the bill had been opposed by Senate leaders.

When the house version of the bill passed late last year, Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop said the bill would hurt business at bars and restaurants and put unnecessary government restrictions on private establishments. At that time, his spokesman Matt Marsden told the media, “The timing of this legislation really couldn’t be worse, given Michigan’s economic woes.” So why the change? Marsden said Friday morning that Majority Leader Bishop heard from his constituency and discussed it with fellow senators and decided to let the bill go to a vote. Marsden said Bishop remains opposed to the bill because he does not favor government restrictions on business, but added Bishop is also personally opposed to smoking.

After the vote, Senator Glen Anderson said it is about workers: The Livonia Democrat said the bill will prevent workers from having to make a choice between their health and their job.

The only significant change from the House version of the bill that passed in December 2007 was that the Senate bill removes exceptions for casinos and bingo halls. Indian run casinos are on tribal land and would not be affected by any state legislation.

One of the sponsors of the house version of the bill, Mark Meadows said he is aware that many bar and restaurant owners are concerned about the legislation. He calls the bill “a significant change for the state of Michigan” and said “statistics show that everywhere that these bans have passed, revenues have gone up in bars and restaurants.”

The East Lansing Democrat said he expects the bill to come back to the house next week and predicts it will pass quickly. He does not expect any attempt to have the exemptions put back in the bill.

Governor Jennifer Granholm has said she will sign the smoking ban. In a statement following the vote, she congratulated the State Senate for approving legislation that bans smoking in public places and urged the House to act quickly. She added that this legislation “sends a strong message across Michigan — and the nation — that we place a high priority on the health of our citizens.”