Discussion on statewide smoking ban to air on KET Monday at 8

The possibility of a statewide smoking ban will be discussed on Kentucky Educational Television's "Kentucky Tonight" Monday.

The guests will be state Rep. Susan Westrom, D-Lexington; Rep. Mike Harmon, R-Junction City; Amy Barkley, tobacco-state and Mid-Atlantic officer for the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids; and Jim Waters of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions.

Westrom has already said she plans to re-introduce a bill that would ban smoking in indoor public places and work facilities this upcoming legislative session. She introduced the bill last year as well, but told cn|2's "Pure Politics" it was more of a trial run to "educate" other legislators.

The results of a poll released this week show just over half of Kentuckians would support a statewide law that would ban smoking in most public places, including restaurants and bars. Just under 53 percent said they were in favor of such a law, and another 1 percent said they lean toward favoring it. Only 40.5 percent opposed the idea, with 2 percent leaning against it. Four percent had no opinion.

The show airs at 8/7 p.m. CST Monday on KET. Kentucky viewers with questions can send e-mail, including their name and town or county, to kytonight@ket.org. The phone number for viewer calls during the program is 1-800-494-7605. Viewers can also submit questions on Twitter to @BillKET or #kytonight, or on KET's Facebook page.