By Shannon Fiecke, staff writer

Those who caught a glimpse of the House debate over a proposed smoking ban in Minnesota workplaces might have been surprised when opponent Michael Beard agreed to prohibit smoking all-together.

The Republican state representative from Shakopee said he knew the measure would fail, but he supported it on principle.

He believes banning a legal activity in places of business invades private property rights. If the health effects are so dangerous that such a ban is needed, he said the intellectually honest thing to do is to outlaw smoking.

Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, who slammed the smoking ban during legislative debate, didn’t join the three representatives who voted for the prohibition. But he lent support, arguing it was hypocritical for lawmakers who support the workplace ban not to approve a total prohibition, according to coverage of the debate by the Star News.

Buesgens split ways with neighboring Rep. Will Morgan of Burnsville on the House bill, which ultimately passed 85 to 45 in a weaker state than the version approved earlier in the Senate, 41 to 24.

Beard didn’t have a chance to vote on the measure because he had to leave early, but said he’ll have another crack at it when the legislation returns from a conference committee hammering out the differences between the House and Senate bills.

Not surprisingly, area Sens. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, and Tom Neuville, R-Northfield, voted against the ban, while John Doll, DFL-Burnsville, supported it.

However, Sen. Claire Robling, a Jordan Republican, changed her mind in not backing the Senate version because she thought it was "too much too fast.

Both bills outlaw smoking in Minnesota workplaces, including private bars and restaurants, but the Senate version takes effect in August, while the House restriction doesn’t start until January 2009.

The House version allows establishments that get at least half their revenue from liquor to install ventilated smoking rooms, if permitted by their local government. The Senate version only exempts outdoor patios.

"Every amendment to the bill failed," Robling said, including an exemption of bars who installed air purification systems.

Robling wanted to give bars more time to change their business model, like adding more food items, before the ban went into effect.

"I don’t mind that we get to the point of a complete ban," she said. "I have accepted [that] if we believe it is a danger to people’s health over the long-term, then we have the right to limit it. But I don’t want to harm the businesses. I want to give them a chance to find other revenue sources so they can survive."

- For more on local legislators' votes and thoughts on the smoking ban, read today's print edition of the Shakoee Valley News. A PDF of the paper will also be posted on-line at noon Friday.