The House got greedy. The Senate stayed reasonable. The citizens lost. There will be no state-wide smoking ban this year.

When the Colorado Senate passed its version of the state-wide smoking bill a few weeks ago, it was a do-able deal. It excluded restaurants and allowed people to smoke in bars. That wasn’t good enough for Democrats. They wanted the whole kit and caboodle. The house passed a version allowing smoking at cigar bars, bingo parlors, racetracks and hospices. Period. Bars were out of luck. The House knew when they passed the bill the Dems would buck it. And that’s what happened today.

Three votes short, the measure died. Lawmakers wrapped up the session and it’s all over now till next year.