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• Panel weakens bill to let local governments restrict smoking 

Local governments will have more power to restrict smoking under legislation approved Wednesday by a House committee, but they won't be able to restrict smoking in bars or in restaurants that serve alcohol.

It was less than Sen. Jon Johnson, D-New Orleans, had wanted. But he agreed to compromise legislation exempting bars and restaurants from his bill. . . .

As amended by the House Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday, the bill still allows local governments to pass tougher anti-smoking ordinances -- but those tougher ordinances couldn't be applied to bars and restaurants licensed to serve alcoholic drinks.

Rep. Buddy Shaw, R-Shreveport, tried to amend the bill to allow restrictions in restaurants. Johnson resisted, saying he had reached a compromise with restaurant and liquor industry lobbyists.

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