Daniels says he’d sign statewide smoking ban

Gov. Mitch Daniels says he would sign a statewide smoking ban if Indiana lawmakers approve sweeping restrictions on indoor smoking in public places.

Daniels said Wednesday that he would definitely sign such a bill because "there seems to be growing momentum" for such a ban.

As IBJ reported last month, State Rep. Charlie Brown plans again to sponsor legislation in January that would prohibit indoor smoking statewide in public places. The Gary Democrat has won House approval of a smoking ban with exemptions in previous legislative sessions. This time he's seeking a ban with no exemptions.

Daniels spokeswoman Jane Jankowski says the governor has said for nearly two years that he would sign a statewide smoking ban if it passed the Legislature.