Legislator to continue pursuing smoking-ban bill

An Indiana lawmaker says he will keep pursuing a bill that would ban smoking in most public places.

The original
bill by Democratic Rep. Charlie Brown of Gary would ban smoking in public places statewide except casinos and pari-mutuel
horse racing venues.

But the House voted recently to add exemptions for bars, taverns and tobacco shops. That prompted
Brown to withdraw the bill for further consideration. He said House members who want more exemptions are trying to kill his
bill.

But Brown now says he will keep pushing for passage of the bill in the House, with hopes that the Senate
will remove the extra exemptions.