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EDITORIAL: State high court upholds local laws on smoking bans 

The South Carolina Supreme Court struck a strong blow for home rule and the power of local governments with its decision to upheld a ban against indoor, public smoking passed by Greenville City Council last year. . . .

“This is a great day for protecting everyone’s right to breathe clean air in South Carolina,” Carrigan told the AP. Greenville city manager Jim Bourey told the AP that he expects the ban to go into effect Tuesday. But Bourey also said most restaurants and bars already had voluntarily complied. That’s probably how it should be anyway. But, even more importantly, we think the court ruling takes a big step in defining the power of local governments.

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