Smoking Bill

A House judiciary committee has approved a bill that would ban smoking inside all state-owned or state-leased vehicles. Sen. Bill Purcell, D-Scotland, said the proposal is a health issue for state employees. The committee voted against an amendment offered by House Minority Leader Paul Stam, R-Wake, that would have allowed smoking inside older state cars -- provided the employee was assigned the car on a permanent basis. And other people inside the car would have to consent before the driver could smoke. The bill now heads to the full House. The Senate already has approved a version of the bill. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 7/01/08).