On to the Council vote on smoking

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.smoke17may17,0,6500939.story?coll=bal-local-howard

It's now obvious that the Robey-Ulman bill extending the ban on smoking in public places in Howard County will pass and possibly without amendments. Sitting in the audience at the hearing, I can remember only two opponents testifying against it and they seemed to represent either the affected establishments in general or one in particular. The general public seems accepting of the new law to be. So, apparently, the only question is whether Council chair Merdon will join Councilmember Feaga in opposition on the final vote.
The Sun article by Larry Carson mentions other jurisdictions in Maryland that have smoking ban laws. I would add Charles County to the list of those having at least a partial ban. There, for the time being at least, freestanding bars are exempted.