If reducing the cost of health care and attracting new business are top concerns for legislators, business leaders and taxpayers, then passing statewide smoke-free air legislation should be a priority. Indiana's lack of action on this topic will continue to take an extraordinary and unnecessary toll on both our personal and economic health.

All evidence points to the inevitability of statewide smoke-free air legislation. Almost half of all states already have such laws, and studies that demonstrate their effectiveness and public support continue to accumulate.

Thanks to state Rep. Charlie Brown of Gary and 69 other state representatives who voted to keep this bill moving, Indiana has the opportunity to take a major step forward in creating smoke-free workplaces.

Indiana needs smoke-free air legislation to protect the health of its citizens, to attract new business and to lower health care costs.

Seventy-six percent of adult Hoosiers don't smoke, yet everyone pays dearly for smoking's consequences. First, we pay by having our health compromised by secondhand smoke. Next, we pay in the form of higher health care costs and the reduced economic development that results.

Hoosiers have been asked to pay far too much for far too long. It's time to cut this anchor loose and pass HB 1213 to establish smoke-free workplaces for Hoosiers.

- Douglas Leonard, President, Indiana Hospital Association