One author of the statewide smoking ban says the legislation has been butchered by the Senate.
The Senate passed several amendments to the smoking ban Tuesday.
With those changes, bars and taverns would now be totally exempt from the ban, as well as senior centers.
And social clubs who allow smoking would now also be able to allow children into the facilities.
Oldenburg Republican Senator Jean Leising authored several of the amendments.
She says she wants to make sure bars and taverns are on a level playing field with other businesses.
But Gary Democratic Representative Charlie Brown says the bill is about workers’ rights.
He helped author the House legislation and says he thinks a smoking ban can get passed without all the exemptions the Senate put in.
If the ban passes the Senate Wednesday, it goes back to the House…and then either to the governor or to conference committee for additional changes.
Brown says if the bar and tavern exemption isn’t removed, he thinks the House won’t support the ban.
