October 15, 2008 09:57 am Amid Washington's attempts to bail out Wall Street, the Michigan Legislature has bailed out on an anti-workplace smoking bill that would save lives. More important are casino profits, apparently. The recent vote to make Michigan the 35th state to bar workplace smoking fell short after Detroit Democrats, in cahoots with West Michigan Republicans, failed to support the measure ... Pushing for the bill's defeat were Detroit casino owners who say they've enjoyed an uptick in business since competing casinos in Windsor were required by Ontario law to go smoke-free a couple of years ago. Casinos also claimed banning smoking on gaming floors would cost jobs and revenue for city and state coffers. ... Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer, taking more lives each year than all other major cancers combined. Those hustling drinks and dealing cards at casinos cannot escape the fumes. The failure of this bill to pass was a travesty for the state ... The Muskegon Chronicle
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