Labor-related legislation is expected to dominate much of the 2012 Indiana General Assembly that begins Wednesday, but lawmakers are also expected to again take up a proposed statewide ban.Indiana Legislative Insight Publisher Ed Feigenbaum says it appears a ban is unlikely to win passage unless it includes and exemption for the state’s casinos, a major source of state tax revenue."There are very few legislators, except the militant anti-smoking advocates there, that are looking to not exempt casinos and have a total ban. Still, that’s something that sticks in the craw of anti-smoking groups," he said.A smoking ban failed to clear a legislative committee last year. Anti-smoking groups dropped their support after numerous exemptions were added to the measure.Also on the legislative calendar during the short session are tax and education bills.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.
