Brown: Smoking ban changes 'unacceptable'

Publication Date: 2011-01-25

• Author:JON SEIDEL
• Publication:Post-Tribune

Bars and taverns would be exempt from Indiana's proposed smoking ban under changes made Monday at the Statehouse, as well as nursing homes and veterans' private clubs.

Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, called the amendments "unacceptable." His smoking ban cleared another hurdle, though. It faces a final vote in the House before it goes to the Senate.

The bill, which would prohibit smoking in all public places, already exempted casino gambling facilities around the state. That was added last week after a fiscal analysis found a smoking ban would cost casinos money, and therefore cut off as much as $187 million in gambling taxes from Indiana next year.

The state's powerful casino lobby also opposes the ban.