By AP/ KWMU
El Paso, IL – Some smokers are fuming over a bill on Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's desk that could snuff out tobacco at Illinois bars and restaurants.
The bill approved by the legislature this spring would give each of Illinois 1,200 cities, towns and villages the authority to enact local smoking restrictions, including bans for eateries and taverns.
The bill has fired up a debate pitting the hazards of secondhand smoke against whether government should be mandating what happens inside private businesses.
If the bill becomes law, both sides predict few Illinois cities will immediately jump on the smoke-free bandwagon.