Republicans for more government. First up, State Sen. Travis Holdman, who wants adults to have the same restrictions placed on teens in the last session of the General Assembly:
Drivers wouldn't be allowed to use hand-held cell phones or send text messages under a bill being proposed by an Indiana state lawmaker.
Republican State Sen. Travis Holdman of Markle says distracted driving is dangerous for everyone on the road. His bill would allow people to use hands-free headsets or speaker systems, but texting and calls that require using hands would be off limits.
How in the world did Sen. Tom Wyss let Holdman get ahead of him on this? Next up, Gov. Daniels gives encouragement to a Gary Democrat:
Gov. Mitch Daniels says he would sign a statewide smoking ban if Indiana lawmakers approve sweeping restrictions on indoor smoking in public places.
The Times of Munster reported Thursday that Daniels said he would definitely sign such a bill because "there seems to be growing momentum" for such a ban.
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.
Senate President Pro-Tem David Long has already said the time will eventually come for a statewide ban, so this may be the session it finally succeeds, although that "growing momentum" Daniels talks about has resulted in many city and county bans, making the statewide less necessary. Not sure about the cell phone ban, given legislators' general resistance to such things.
