Both houses of the Iowa legislature approved compromise legislation that would ban most indoor smoking in the state but still allow people to light up in casinos, Radio Iowa reported April 8.

"You can argue all you want about personal liberties and rights but the bottom line is there is no level of secondhand smoke that is safe," said state Sen. Matt McCoy, a supporter of the bill. Some lawmakers, like Sen. Rich Olive, wanted a total ban on smoking but voted for the compromise bill. "We need to do whatever we can to move this (smoking ban) forward," he said.

Opponents slammed the bill either because they felt it infringed on personal liberties or because they objected to the casino exemption. "Although I want to see far less smoking ... I just fear that passing this ... makes us all criminals just waiting to be arrested," said Sen. Dennis Black.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver endorsed the measure and said he would sign it into law.