INDIANAPOLIS | State Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, vowed to try again next year after an Indiana Senate committee voted 8-1 on Wednesday to reject his proposed statewide indoor smoking ban.

House Bill 1018, as approved by the House 68-31 in January, would have prohibited smoking in all indoor public places with exemptions for bars, casinos, private clubs, tobacco shops and nursing homes.

But senators on the Public Policy Committee weren't happy with those exemptions. Some favored a comprehensive smoking ban with no exemptions, while others said state government shouldn't be dictating whether businesses can allow smoking.

"If you can get a better bill than this, I certainly would support it. But until such time I cannot; I vote no," said state Sen. Jim Arnold, D-LaPorte.

Committee opposition to the smoking ban included Republicans and Democrats, with only state Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, voting yes. Lanane, who supports a total indoor smoking ban, said the legislation should advance to the full Senate for a vote.

The committee defeat essentially kills the smoking ban for the year unless Brown can persuade a House-Senate conference committee to add the smoking ban to other legislation. Brown was pessimistic about that happening.