House Speaker: State lawmakers may seek smoking ban

Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma says lawmakers may seek passage of a statewide smoking ban before the nation's attention turns to Indianapolis for the February Super Bowl.

Bosma said Thursday that he may speed through a statewide smoking ban after an Indianapolis' City-County Council committee on Tuesday voted down a proposal to ban smoking in the city ahead of the Feb. 5 Super Bowl.

Lawmakers return for their 2012 session January 4.

Gov. Mitch Daniels has said he would consider signing a statewide smoking ban.

Other House and Senate leaders said Thursday they see easy approval of such a ban. But House Democratic Leader Pat Bauer cautioned that Hoosiers generally like smoking bans except in their own neighborhood bars and restaurants.