From Citizen-Times:

Republican leaders oppose proposals to ban smoking in state cars and near the entrances and open windows of state buildings.

House Republican leader Paul Stam said today the bills that won tentative approval in the Senate Tuesday -with many Republican supporters – seem like an attempt to “isolate smokers” and make them feel like “second-class citizens” rather than to improve public health.

An objection from Sen. Tom Apodaca, R-Henderson, delayed a final vote.

Sen. William Purcell, D-Scotland and a retired pediatrician, is the bills’ sponsor. He said smoke was damaging the cars: “One of the problems when they have a vehicle that has been occupied two or three years by a heavy smoker, they have trouble getting rid of the vehicle.”

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