Article: Smoking proposal sparks GOP rift.

Byline: Jim Tharpe

Apr. 13--Gov. Sonny Perdue must decide soon whether he'll snuff out or sign a smoking ban that has exposed a smoldering fault line within the new Republican majority at the state Capitol.

The state Senate and House --- now in GOP hands for the first time in 130 years --- approved the ban, which would prohibit smokers from lighting up in many Georgia eateries and other public places.

But the Republican governor has problems with the legislation, which some Republicans view as government big-footing into the affairs of private business.

"I'm still smoking it over, but haven't made a decision yet," Perdue, a nonsmoker, ...

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