Those of you anxiously waiting to hear if you’ll have to permanently crush out your butts in Virginia eateries can happily light up another. Yesterday, the state’s General Assembly voted to reject Governor Tim Kaine’s proposed smoking ban in Viriginia’s restaurants. In their very last session before they break for the rest of 2007, Assembly members urged the Governor to reconsider what some claim would be too-widely sweeping a restriction — making it illegal to smoke at county fairs or ballparks.

We predicted just last week that the momentum of smoking bans in the metro area would finally plow its way into Virginia, but that was probably a lot to ask from the home of Philip Morris USA and the fourth largest tobacco producing state, which brings in about $160 million annually in tobacco crops. Whether or not Kaine’s proposal would actually have been so far-reaching, it’s off the table now, but Kaine has vowed to redraft the ban — with exceptions for places like hot dog stands — and submit it again when the legislature reconvenes in January 2008. So puff away, smokers, you’ve got at least another year to enjoy your Camels over that plate of pasta.

Photo by maxedaperture.