Surprisingly, the Michigan bill to ban smoking in public places is getting closer to becoming a law, as State Senate voted 25 to 12 to ban smoking in all bars, restaurants and workplaces.

The bill returns to the House, which has been waiting since December for the Senate to act. The House could send the bill as early as next week to Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

Granholm backs the smoking prohibition in part because it might have a positive influence on youngsters, as studies have shown that teenagers are less likely to take up smoking in communities which interdict it.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop called it a “blatant overreach” of government into private affairs.

“When will it stop? How much control do you want? And when will people have to stop thinking for themselves entirely?” asked Bishop, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Another Senator, Raymond Basham, is a big supporter of this bill and says that the measure is necessary especially for those who work in smoky public places and cannot avoid the smoke by leaving, as their job requires them to be there. Some republicans are also in favor of the bill because studies have shown the effects of second hand smoking.

The bill that passed the House five months ago made an exception from the ban for casinos, bingo halls, horse tracks, cigar bars and smoke shops. But now, the Senate got rid of those provisions in favor of banning smoking in all workplaces.

The Michigan Licensed Beverage Association criticized Thursday’s vote, saying that bars and restaurants should be allowed to set their own policies based on what customers want.

Since the State of Ohio closed the door on smoking, Michigan businesses like Nick and Jimmy's in Temperance have been reaping the benefits, as they have more customers.

“I’d say about 50 percent of our customers come up from Ohio just to smoke here in Michigan, which helps out our business,” says Lindsay Miller, who works at Nick and Jimmy's, reports a local source.

On the other hand, supporters of the legislation say that the ban won’t affect bars or restaurants economically.

“It shows that he has heard our concerns about the greater good for all Michigan residents,” said Judy Stewart, spokeswoman for the Campaign for Smokefree Air.