When Lance Armstrong visits Madison next week to promote a statewide smoking ban, he should pedal over to Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker 's office at the state Capitol.

That 's where the ban is stuck and facing an uphill battle in desperate need of strong legs.

Who better to get the wheels of government rolling than a seven-time Tour de France winner.

"I urge Wisconsin legislators to support the health of their voters and pass this life-saving bill, " Armstrong, a cancer survivor, said in a press release Tuesday.

Decker, D-Weston, and other Democrats who control the Senate are blocking a statewide smoking ban from a floor vote with only a few weeks left before the Legislature adjourns its regular business for the year.

Something needs to happen fast.

The Senate Public Health Committee passed a statewide smoking ban in January affecting indoor public workplaces, including restaurants and taverns.

The ban appears to have strong bipartisan support with more than enough votes to clear the Senate. But so far, Democratic leaders won 't allow a full Senate vote to occur.

Unless the Senate Democrats want to be blamed for the ban 's failure in the fall elections, they 'd better get moving and schedule a vote on Senate Bill 150 now.

The Republican-run Assembly had been waiting for the Senate to act. But now the Assembly is moving on its own as the remaining days of the legislative session dwindle.

The Assembly Public Health Committee is holding a public hearing Wednesday on its version of the statewide smoking ban. The hearing is at noon in room 417 North at the Capitol. Assembly Bill 834, which would kick in June 1, 2009, enjoys bipartisan support and deserves passage.

If legislative leaders snuff out the smoking ban this spring, more local communities across Wisconsin are sure to pass smoking bans of their own. That would create an even worse patchwork of laws that potentially and unfairly could harm some small businesses.

When Madison adopted its local smoking ban, some taverns on the edge of the city lost customers to bars a few blocks away that still allowed smoking.

A statewide ban would provide an even playing field for all tavern owners. Moreover, bar employees would enjoy a much healthier work environment.

Smokers in Madison have accepted the easy courtesy of stepping outside when they light up. And many bars have catered to smokers by providing outside patios -- some with heaters -- where smoking is still allowed.

A statewide indoor smoking ban is really not that big of a deal for smokers. And for everyone else, it 's a huge plus.

Illinois and Minnesota have adopted statewide smoking bans, and Iowa is getting close. Just last week, Nebraska joined the long list of states to approve smoking bans.

Public opinion is changing fast. And Lance Armstrong 's visit next Tuesday should only speed Wisconsin opinion even faster to the right and responsible answer.