ND1202113

Title: Indiana Inches Closer to Statewide Smoking Ban

Description: Senate leader says the bill might pass if advocates would be content with some exceptions.

Page Content: INDIANAPOLIS ? The Indiana Legislature has toyed with a statewide smoking ban for several years, with various bills passing the House only to die in the Senate. This session, Senate President Pro Tem David Long said the measure has a better chance of success, the Journal Gazette reports.

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?The idea that somehow you can get 95 percent of what you?re seeking and it?s still not enough doesn?t work real well down here in a world where you have to sometimes compromise,? said Long. ?You have to be realistic about what?s attainable and recognize that 95 percent of the loaf is a pretty darn big win.?

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The last version of a statewide smoking ban contained provisions forbidding smoking in nearly all public places, such as bowling alleys, businesses, hotels, offices and restaurants. Exemptions included the 13 Indiana casinos, two horse racking tracks, nursing homes, private clubs, and all taverns and bars serving only a 21-and-older clientele. The House approved that version but a Senate committee nixed the bill in part because of lobbying from the American Cancer Society, which didn?t like the exemptions.

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Now, Long said if a statewide smoking ban proposal were introduced to the legislature this time around, maybe if the advocates would accept ?the fact that [the exemptions] need to exist, it might get past the finish line.?

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However, the American Cancer Society isn?t interested in compromising. ?I find it interesting that our legislature and our administration prides itself in moving strong policy for Indiana, so it?s concerning for me that we won?t consider the best we can get,? said Amanda Estridge, Indiana government relations manager for the American Cancer Society. ?Starting out saying we will only consider a bill with exemptions is saying some workers are more important than others.?

Content Subject: Operations

Formatted Article Date: December 2, 2011

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