By Susan Smith

If the Legislature was one big popularity contest (wait a minute … ) and the smoking ban bill was the homecoming dance, Gov. Mike Rounds would be this year’s most sought after date.

Will he (ask me) or won’t he, those who have made their investments on either side of the bill might nervously wonder.

House Bill 1240, which bans most public smoking in the state, excluding that done in smoke shops, cigar bars and motels and hotels, was delivered to the governor on March 11.

According to an Associated Press report released today, Rounds hopes to make the decision soon. His staff is reviewing the bill to make sure it’s written correctly. He’ll make the decision after that process is completed, he said. A potential loss in state gambling revenue will not influence his decision, Rounds said. His budget office estimates that revenue from video lottery could drop 15 to 25 percent.   That amounts to a possible $15 million cut from an estimated $111 million in lottery money.

“As I’ve told people, I don’t like smoking. I don’t like second-hand smoke,” he said. “But I have to balance that with making darn sure the bill is written correctly and it doens’t have unintended consequences.”

The article didn’t specify what those unintended consequences might be. Stay tuned.

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