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Smoking In Mo House: GOP, Yes; Dems, No

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Republican members of the Missouri House who smoke will still be able to, while Democrats won’t. That's the result of a new House rule adopted today. The new rule allows each party caucus within the House to set its own rules for such things as whether a lawmaker can smoke in his or her own Capitol office.  Shelley Keeney of Bollinger County chairs the House GOP Caucus.

“I do think it was a good compromise," says Keeney. "Clearly there were a wide range of views."

Democrats tried but failed to add an amendment to the rule that would’ve banned smoking in ALL lawmakers’ offices, regardless of party affiliation.  Jake Hummel of St. Louis is the Minority Floor Leader.

“It’s 2013, folks, come on," says Hummel. "How can we continue to allow smoking in our offices?”

However, six House Democrats joined all 108 Republicans in voting “no.”

Marshall Griffin is the Statehouse reporter for St. Louis Public Radio.
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