House Adds Statewide Smoking Ban to Bill

The Indiana House has voted to add a statewide smoking ban to Governor Daniels' health insurance bill. Numerous cities have passed their own bans. However, State Representative Eric Turner (R-Marion) says the state needs to get involved if it is serious about the health dangers of smoking. Bars, truck stops and tobacco stores would be exempt from the ban, though cities with stricter bans could keep those limits in place.

Twenty-four states have total bans. However, Turner says he's not sure he could get that passed. He says the partial ban may pick up some votes from Republicans who are otherwise leery of voting for a tax hike. Once the House passes the bill, House and Senate negotiators will have to hammer out their differences. They also need to find a home for the cigarette tax hike or another way to pay for expanded insurance coverage for Hoosiers without health insurance.

Source: Inside INdiana Business and Network Indiana/WIBC