Signatures are adequate to require action by state

Supporters hope lawmakers ignore the petition so it can go onto the '06 ballot.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- An anti-smoking group said it has enough petition signatures to force the Legislature to consider a statewide law that bans smoking in all public places.
Members of SmokeFreeOhio planned to present more than 150,000 signatures to Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell's office Thursday, needing only about 97,000 to be certified to force the issue onto the Legislature's agenda at the start of the next session in January.
But the group wants the Legislature to ignore its proposal so that it can take the measure directly to voters on the November 2006 ballot. The group, which includes the American Cancer Society and the Association of Ohio Health Commissioners, fears lawmakers will grant exemptions to bars and restaurants.
Legislative outlook
"If somebody is telling me 'you can make me happy by not doing something,' trust me, I'll honor their request," said House Speaker Jon Husted, a Republican from suburban Dayton.
Senate President Bill Harris, an Ashland Republican, said he still needed to review the issue.
Restaurants and beverage companies want lawmakers to address the proposal and keep it off the ballot, said Jacob Evans of the Ohio Licensed Beverage Association.
Lawmakers would have four months to take it up. If they ignore it, as SmokeFreeOhio wants, the group would need to secure another 97,000 certified signatures to put the petition on the November 2006 ballot.
A statewide ban would supersede bans already in place in 21 Ohio cities, including Columbus.
Supporters say a statewide ban is needed to protect all Ohioans from exposure to secondhand smoke. Opponents charge it could hurt small bars and restaurants.
Statewide bans that include bars are in place in eight states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.