Haven’t we been here before? State legislators say a statewide smoking ban is a lock for this year’s session and, in fact, must go through before the Super Bowl hits Indianapolis in February.
Year after year after year, we’ve heard such a law would pass. In January this year, state Rep. Charlie Brown said, “I think this is the year.”
But by the end of the session in May, the ban was just another puff of smoke disappearing into the atmosphere.
Everyone seems to think the ban is a great idea; this past summer, Gov. Mitch Daniels added his support, saying he wants the smoking rate lowered to 20 percent by the end of his term next year. Other cities and towns around the state have passed their own bans, including Lowell, Valparaiso and Crown Point.
But somehow, the wording on what is and isn’t included in the ban — i.e., casinos — holds up the legislation in the state every year.
Perhaps 2012 will find an even bigger group to do the opposite, and finally make the bill pass: football fans from around the nation in Indianapolis for the Super Bowl. The city wants to look world-class for these visitors and, for many, apparently that means no smoking in public places.
The Indianapolis City Council debated a ban the day before this new push for a state law, but voted it down. So now, the state steps in to make its case.
We certainly are all for the renewed effort to get the law passed. It’s just a shame it takes out-of-towners and TV cameras to get it done.