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State smoking ban back in the hot seat 

Lawmakers will take another look at the workplace smoking ban today, though observers predict the health-inspired law that started 14 months ago to jeers from puffers around the state won't change.

Some bills up for consideration by the joint Public Health Committee would extend the smoking ban by including parks and beaches, while others would scale back the ban and allow some bargoers to light up again.

Yet state Rep. Peter Koutoujian, (D-Waltham), House chairman of the committee, predicts there isn't momentum on Beacon Hill to tweak the once-controversial law right now in either direction.

``By all reports the smoking ban has been widely successful,'' Koutoujian said.

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