Indiana Statewide Smoking Ban Looking Likely

A statewide ban receives positive reception, with sponsors looking for passage before the Super Bowl in Indianapolis, while bar and restaurants owners say it would be bad for business.

January 12, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS - With Indiana governor Mitch Daniels backing a statewide smoking ban, state lawmakers believe they are on the verge of passing a bill that would affect most public places and workplaces, including bars, TheIndyChannel.com reports.

Exemptions would only apply to casinos, private clubs, cigar and hookah bars, and pari-mutuel betting parlors.

The Indiana House has passed smoking ban legislation five times, though it has died each time in the Senate. But with the governor now backing the plan, they expressed a collective belief that the sixth time will be a charm.

Bar owners are upset and said the new bill would damage their businesses.

"We've heard a lot of good testimony on why we need to have a smoking ban here in the state of Indiana, but I don't know that there's any of that testimony that could also say this is why we need to ban tobacco altogether in the state of Indiana," said Brad Klopfenstein with the Tavern League of Indiana. "I'd like to hear more about why are bars suddenly the pariah when it comes to this argument?"

Health industry professional appeared earlier this week before the House Public Health Committee, urging passage of the bill before this year??s Super Bowl, which is being hosted by Indianapolis. They said approving such a measure would present a positive view of the city.

At least one longtime sponsor of the bill said he doesn??t think the bill needs such urgent attention.

"I dislike the fact that the presence of the Super Bowl here seems to be the moving force," said state Rep. Charlie Brown.

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