Statewide smoking ban now appears dead

Publication Date: 2009-04-23

• Author:John Byrne
• Publication:Gary (IN) Post-Tribune

A local lawmaker's bid to ban smoking in most indoor public places statewide got relit briefly Wednesday, but now appears to be snuffed out.

State Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, inserted language banning smoking everywhere except casinos and other gambling establishments into a bill dealing with mental health issues.

Brown's late session conference committee gambit apparently failed, however, as the Senate Republican member of the committee refused to agree to the amended bill.