From: SMOKEFREE@compuserve.com
Date: Tue, 06/10/08
Please contact your PA Senator NOW (at his/her Harrisburg office) urging a
YES vote on the Smoke Free Pennsylvania Act when the Senate reconsiders the
bill (which is on today's Senate agenda). Contact information for Senators
is at http://www.legis.state.pa.us/
Following is Smokefree Pennsylvania's letter that was sent to many Senate
Democrats today. Bill Godshall
- - -
(via FAX) June 10, 2008
Honorable Michael O'Pake
Pennsylvania Senate
11 East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120
RE: Smoke Free Pennsylvania Act (SB 246)
Dear Senator O'Pake:
As a follow-up to our June 4 letter, Smokefree Pennsylvania once again
urges you to support the Conference Committee Report (SB 246) on
reconsideration, and urges you to work with us next session to enact
legislation that lets local governments enact stronger local ordinances
and/or to eliminate exemptions for slot casinos, bars and/or clubs.
Had the Senate Democrats proposal (i.e. Senator Mellow's amendment in the
Conference Committee that we supported, but that was defeated 3-3) allowed
ALL local governments to enact stronger smokefree ordinances OR
significantly reduced the number of exempted workplaces, we would have
vigorously opposed the Conference Committee Report.
But Senator Mellow's amendment only would have allowed Allegheny County and
Scranton (but not Erie County) to reenact their previously approved
ordinances, while still preempting all local governments (including
Philadelphia, Allegheny County and Scranton) from enacting stronger
ordinances. Compared to the Conference Committee Report, Senator Mellow's
amendment would have provided smokefree air to one additional slot casino
floor and several dozen additional bars (which all combined employ fewer
than one tenth of one percent of the state's workforce).
Since the Conference Committee Report would protect more than 95% (probably
98%) of workers in PA from tobacco smoke pollution, since the PA Senate
cannot require the House Conference Committee to reconsider the
legislation, since a majority of House Conferees (Reps. Miller and
Belfanti) have reiterated their opposition to Senator Mellow's amendment
(after the Senate rejected the Conference Committee Report last week), and
since another rejection of the Conference Committee Report by Senate
Democrats will likely result in no enactment of smokefree workplace
legislation this session, we urge you to support the Conference Committee
Report on reconsideration.
Please remember that the Senate Democrats will be justifiably blamed if the
General Assembly fails to enact smokefree workplace legislation this
session.
Sincerely,
Bill Godshall
Executive Director
.
| 
