As expected, the Michigan House passed the smoking bill, but it was not the version the Senate sent from across the hall. The representatives put back exemptions for casinos, bingo halls, cigar bars and tobacco stores.

By a 65-39 vote Wednesday afternoon, lawmakers passed a new version of the bill that was the essentially the same version of the proposal the House sent to the Senate in December. That Senate bill was passed on May 8.

Sen. Majority Leader Mike Bishop said he was puzzled about why the House sent over a duplicate of its previous legislation rather than amending the Senate version. The two sides must now try to hammer out a compromise.

The Michigan Distributors and Vendors Association was unhappy with the House action. Its president, Polly Reber, says lawmakers need to be reasonable and responsible and take into account the shaky economic conditions facing the hospitality industry. Reber points out that in addition to the Detroit casinos, the 19 tribal casinos around the state are exempt from any state-sanctioned smoking ban. She said Michigan business owners will be unable to compete on this unlevel playing field, putting them at a distinct competitive disadvantage.

“More than 5,000 businesses in Michigan’s hospitality industry have made the decision to go smoke-free. This decision should be left up to restaurant owners, workers and their patrons. Smoking is a legal, regulated product,” Reber said. “By approving a ban without reasonable alternatives, you eliminate the ability of Michigan citizens to exercise choice.”

Reber says the bill is potentially a crippling blow to small, independent Michigan businesses and is urging legislators to discuss reasonable alternatives for those businesses whose very survival depends on patrons who choose to smoke.