The Michigan House and Senate are struggling to reach a compromise over a proposed statewide indoor-smoking ban, the Associated Press reported May 28.

The sticking point is that a House-approved measure provides exceptions for smoking at casinos, bingo halls, tobacco stores, and horse racing tracks, while the Senate version of the bill bans smoking in all workplaces. "We have the momentum," said Emily Gerkin Palsrok, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Campaign for Smokefree Air. "We have the tide swinging in our favor. But we're not happy with the exemptions."

Detroit's casinos have been lobbying hard for an exemption for the ban. "The indications are there would be a real financial hit to the city and the casinos if we do this," said House Speaker Andy Dillon. "The exceptions that are included in this bill are pretty minor in the scope of things." But Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop opposes such exemptions. "Either you have a ban or you don't have a ban," he said.