Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, a Republican, who heads the committee where the bill was referred, described it as not a priority, the Detroit Free Press reported. A spokesman said that Bishop supports a smoking ban in principal but not at the moment, given Michigan's current economic problems.

The House adopted a bill last week that banned smoking in most bars and restaurants as well as other workplaces. The only exceptions were casinos, racetracks and cigar bars.

Anti-smoking advocates have been trying for 10 years to get a statewide ban on smoking in public buildings.