Time to talk about everybody’s favorite topic! It seems that efforts are being made to revive the idea of a D.C. smoking ban. The Post’s Eric Weiss reports today that Council member Kathy Patterson introduced a bill that proposes smoking bans in workplaces and public enclosed spaces; any violations carry up to a $1,000 fine.

Patterson’s bill might stand a better chance of not languishing for months, as it was drafted specifically in order to be referred to David Catania’s Health Committee. Two previous smoking ban bills were designated environmental issues and were sent to Carol Schwartz’s Public Works and the Environment Committee, where not much has happened with them.

Schwartz, who is one of the strongest opponents of the smoking ban, has introduced her own bill to deal with the issue, calling it a compromise:

The Schwartz bill would offer bars and restaurants that go smoke-free a two-year tax break equal to 25 percent of the sales tax they generate while increasing license fees and ventilation requirements on those that don’t.

“It’s truly a carrot-and-stick approach,” Schwartz said. “It does not mandate it, it does not coerce it, rather it gives businesses in this city freedom of choice while we maintain our freedom of choice of which establishments we patronize.”

A few months back, a DCist post on the smoking ban elicited a, um, lively back-and-forth in the comments section, where people argued about whether restaurant and bar employees really want a ban; if a ban would create massive sidewalk crowds outside of establishments; or if a ban would indeed create a “50% drop in business.” Personally, we’re a fan of establishments that create options for both nonsmokers and smokers, such as Wonderland or Saint-Ex, but clearly many other people believe in a more all-or-nothing approach. What do you think, DCist readers? Have your opinions changed? Do you think Patterson’s bill stands a chance, or does Schwartz’s sound more appealing? And, uh, do you have a cigarette we can bum?