DES MOINES --The House approved a compromise on a statewide public smoking ban Tuesday that would prohibit smoking in most public places but still allow smoking on casino gaming floors and at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.

The measure is the product of a conference committee charged with ironing out differences between differing House and Senate versions of public smoking bans.

House members approved the conference committee report on a 52-48 vote and the bill on a 54-45 vote. It now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Rep. Tyler Olson, D-Cedar Rapids, who led debate on the measure, argued it was good for the health of Iowans, citing a statistic that 440 Iowans die every year from conditions related the exposure of second-hand smoke.

"This truly is historic legislation, historic for the public health aspect and historic for the workplace safety aspect," Olson said.

Opponents argued the measure would hurt small businesses, especially bars and restaurants that would have to compete with casinos, where smoking would be allowed on the gaming floor.

Rep. McKinley Bailey, D-Webster City, said the bill gave out-of-state corporations that own casinos a competitive advantage over Iowa's mom-and-pop businesses, by allowing smoking in the casinos.

"That's just plain wrong," he said.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said he called the bill up for debate not knowing what the outcome of the vote might be, but predicting it would be close.

A majority of Senate members generally have been in favor of stricter smoking bans, while House members had previously approved exemptions to the ban for state-licensed casinos and bars.

Charlotte Eby can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.