After years of huffing and puffing, lawmakers may pass smoking ban

Governor makes it part of his legislative agenda

— In their sixth year of trying, a group of state lawmakers said they believe they've found the right set of exemptions to set a statewide smoking ban on track for passage during the current session of the Indiana General Assembly.

Under House Bill 1149, smoking would be banned in bars and restaurants, but allowed on the gaming floors of casinos, as well as at cigar and hookah bars and fraternal clubs.

"We think we've found a nice sweet spot," said the bill's author, Rep. Eric Turner, R-Marion, who was joined by four other House members — two Democrats and a Republican — at a news conference announcing the proposed ban Thursday.

Gov. Mitch Daniels has not only endorsed a ban but has said any legislation should contain as few exemptions as possible. He has added enacting a statewide smoking ban to his legislative agenda.

Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, says some exemptions are necessary, but that his chamber — where smoking bans had previously died — will consider a ban for the second straight year.


An effort to close loopholes in Indiana's laws on human trafficking won the unanimous approval of a state Senate committee on Thursday, and it is now headed to the full Senate.

Lawmakers are rushing to get the measure to Gov. Mitch Daniels' desk ahead of February's Super Bowl — and the increased sex trade activity that Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said accompanies the game.

"Our existing statute is inadequate to deter and prosecute these criminals, and so we urge the Legislature to pass the bill to update the law before the big game Feb. 5," Zoeller said in a statement Thursday.


Indiana's total revenue for December 2011 was $1.12 billion — about $12 million more than projected during a revenue forecast last month, according to a report released Thursday.

That figure is $53 million above the collections for the same period last fiscal year. Sales tax collections increased, totaling $529 million, or $24 million above collections for the same period last year.

December also saw a 2.1 percent increase in payroll withholdings compared to last year and a total of $345 million in individual income tax collections, which was $19 million more than last year but $12.5 million less than the monthly target.

State Budget Director Adam Horst said in a statement through the first six months of fiscal year 2012, state general fund revenues have increased 9.2 percent compared to the same period last year.

Sales tax collections and individual income tax collections have increased 7.6 percent and 9 percent, respectively, through the first six months of the fiscal year. On average, payroll withholdings have increased 4 percent.

"The first six months of the fiscal year typically represent 45 (percent) of annual collections with a greater percentage of tax revenues being received in the final six months of the fiscal year, especially during April, May and June," Horst said.

n contributed to this report.


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Comments » 9

home_finally_in_Evansville writes:

As long as the state profits from tobacco, they can not outlaw it.

Adebes writes:

Is everyone forgetting the business owner's right to choose how they run their business? It should be the owner's right and nobody else's business. Don't like it, don't be a patron. Also, these exceptions seem biased... How come the Casino patrons get to smoke and not the bar goers? All about revenue, huh Daniels?

fatdad writes:

What a bunch of useless nonsense. As a smoker I don't want any ban. If they are going to pass an ordinance it should include everyone. Why should any place be exempt. They really should make it illegal and give up all the tax revenue. That will never happen. Hypocrites and Do-gooders.

gremlin writes:

wonder how many places that are nonsmoking be for the ban will sue. after all they will be forced to loose there market. employers love the new law, you see they can get rid of brakes. after all the smokers will not need a brake now. every one knows if you do not smoke you do not need to take a brake.

the sad part is the loss of sales from smokers the law makers will need to build a new tax base.

hardrock (Inactive) writes:

HEY COURIER!!!, I do not know were to post this to get your attention but in the last 2 days you have some how missed reporting on the Robbery that happened at a restaurant downtown and the shooting last night at Fast Eddies. Talk about selective reporting to protect that Downtown image. All the stories mentioned are on Channel 14 news website. If this had happened any where else in town it would have been front page news.

Hickeyboys_Daddy writes:

in response to seabreeze:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

The Democrats are working hard to make sure that the REPUG NUTS don't kill unions and the democratic way of life here in the USA.

There are more good things about unions than bad things. Unions give workers their dignity back and ensure that they are treated right and paid a good wage for a days work. Unions are what made america what it is today. An America with a strong middle class structure.

The RepugNUTs want to make everyone else work for peanuts and work 18 hr days with no water breaks. They would have you work without earning any vacation or sick time. The Repugnuts would do away with the min wage and you would be have the right to work for 25 cents a day just like they did in the past.

It was the capatalists that brought in migrant Chinese laborers to build the railroads. They didn't pay them any thing much either.

Its the GOP who have shipped all our jobs to China and Mexico. Look at Whirlpool as an example. They exploit the Mexicans for Cheap labor.

Hickeyboys_Daddy writes:

in response to gremlin:



People who smoke would be smart to stop smoking now but I that's not going to happen. Because if they were really smart they would not have started smoking in the first place. Duh!

The dumbest thing anyone can do is to start smoking and get hooked on Nicotine.

Darla writes:

in response to thisguysays:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

That is true; smokers demonstrate no common courtesy or respect for their fellow citizens. Since that is a fact, legislation must be enacted to prevent their actions. My grandfather told me that there was the same outrage when speed limits were first introduced. Many don't know this, but there were no speed limits for quite a while after cars were introduced. There is a strange law on record that says that you must turn off your car and cover it with a blanket as to not spook any horses coming towards you (can't believe anyone ever passed that one). However, as vehicles became more popular and more common people owned them, they drove them with reckless abandon. The state and government had to step in and introduce speed limits.

Now, it's long past due, but the same goes for smoking on others. It's taken longer because of all the false propaganda saying that smoking was good for you being used until the 60's. Tobacco companies said smoking increased your lung capacity etc., when they knew (records prove as much) that smoking actually killed you. I work in CA about 30% of the time. They have had strong smoking laws on the books for quite a while now. Smokers there would never support any removal of those laws. Bars are more packed than any bars in IN, that's for sure. Income went up at pretty well all bars tracked after the laws passed. It's only the drug addicts, and that's actually what smokers are, afraid of not being able to trample the rights of others who are throwing a fit here.

generalsn writes:

Local politicians in Illinois were happy to see the state pass the ban. They don't need to bother with it.
