Indiana House GOP kills bill to raise smoking age to 21

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana House Republicans killed a bill on Tuesday that would have increased the legal age for buying tobacco products from 18 to 21.

The measure by Democratic Rep. Charlie Brown, who is retiring this year, was supposed to be a capstone achievement after more than 30 years representing Gary in the General Assembly. Instead, Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma used a procedural maneuver to kill the bill — just one day after the House Public Health Committee approved it on a 9-0 vote.

Indiana consistently ranks poorly among states when it comes to key measures of public health, including smoking rates. Increasing the smoking age could create a powerful disincentive in a state where one-in-five people smoke, supporters of the bill said.

House Republicans justified their decision, stating that their own calculations indicate it would cost the state $14 million a year in lost cigarette tax revenue.

Read more: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/indiana-house-gop-kills-bill-raise-smoking-age/LyYHMsTahq7sYZrklB2B7L/