From: SMOKEFREE@compuserve.com
Date: Thu, 06/12/08
Better ban:The state deserves tougher local rules on smoking
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (editorial)
Thursday, June 12, 2008
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08164/889278-35.stm
You've come a long way, baby. That anachronistic pitch encouraged women to
smoke Virginia Slims because they were thinner than regular cigarettes.
It's far healthier to be able to say "you've come a long way" to
Pennsylvania legislators (we won't call them baby), in recognition of their
passage of the Smoke Free Pennsylvania Act. It will become law 90 days
after Gov. Ed Rendell signs the measure, which he has promised to do.
The new law significantly expands restrictions on where smokers can light
up, covering 95 percent of Pennsylvania workplaces. Special congratulations
should go to Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, the Montgomery County Republican who
started introducing anti-smoking bills 15 years ago, and to Bill Godshall,
who has been pushing the issue for 22 years as the head of SmokeFree
Pennsylvania.
The new law is not perfect. It puts Pennsylvania in the middle of the pack
among states that have indoor smoking restrictions on the books. That's
because it includes some ill-advised exceptions -- for small bars, private
clubs and 25 percent of casino gambling floors and hotel rooms. It also
prohibits local municipalities from enacting stricter regulations, except
in Philadelphia where a stronger ban will remain in effect.
That lack of local control is what prompted the state Senate initially to
reject the bill last week. The vote didn't swing the other way until
Democratic Sen. Robert Mellow said Republican leaders who control that
chamber assured him he'd be able to bring up for a vote measures that would
allow Allegheny County and Scranton to enact their own, tougher
regulations. That's one way to improve upon the new law.
Rep. Dan Frankel, the Squirrel Hill Democrat, has an even better way. He
plans to introduce a bill that would put all local municipalities on
footing equal to Philadelphia's, giving them the power to enact more
restrictive smoking rules.
While that provision was adopted by the House last year, it wasn't accepted
by the Senate and it didn't survive in the compromise that came out of a
conference committee. Mr. Frankel is hoping the complaints raised in the
Senate last week about Philadelphia's special status mean most senators are
ready to back local control on smoking.
Pennsylvanians who want to breathe freely will have to keep the pressure
up. When it comes to smoking, we've come a long way, but we still have a
long way to go.
- - -
Smoking Ban
Breathe easy, Pa.
Philadelphia Inquirer (editorial)
Thu, Jun. 12, 2008
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20080612_Editorial___Smoking_Ban.htm
l
At last, Pennsylvania is clearing the air.
The state Senate took a historic step in the interest of public health
Tuesday by approving legislation to ban smoking in restaurants and most
workplaces and public areas across the state.
With the state House already on board, Gov. Rendell can take enormous pride
in quickly signing the smoke-free law - a measure that he jump-started 18
months ago after it had been stalled for years.
Taking a bow with Rendell, of course, are the legislative leaders who
worked months to craft an agreement on the ban - notably, Sen. Stewart J.
Greenleaf (R., Montgomery), who first sponsored antismoking legislation 15
years ago. A fellow Montco lawmaker, Democratic Rep. Michael F. Gerber,
stood his ground for tough smoke-free protections in the House, while Bucks
Republican Sen. Charles T. McIlhinney Jr. brought along many lawmakers
still reluctant to embrace even this ban, which has exemptions for casinos
outside Philadelphia, private clubs and shots-and-beer taverns.
The smoking ban could well be "the most important public health
legislation" to come out of Harrisburg in decades, noted Bill Godshall of
the Pittsburgh-based SmokeFree Pennsylvania group. Despite the exemptions,
the ban will protect vast numbers of hospitality-industry patrons, as well
as employees who have had little choice when subjected to secondhand-smoke.
With the state more and more focused on promoting tourism, the antismoking
rules will also bring Pennsylvania up to the standard expected by visitors
from other smoke-free regions. In suburban Philadelphia, restaurants and
nightclubs no longer will be at a competitive disadvantage with the city
for patrons who have flocked to downtown nightspots due to the city's
strong smoke-free ordinance.
By defeating earlier proposals to up-end the city's smoking rules,
lawmakers left open the door for future proposals that should permit other
communities to enact their own tougher measures.
In letting the city craft its own protections on secondhand smoke - who
knows? - maybe the legislature also set a precedent for allowing the city
to set rules to stem yet another critical public-health crisis - gun
violence.
Without question, the approval of the smoking ban frees so-far reluctant
Senate GOP leaders to focus on the House-voted plan Rendell favors to
expand access to health coverage for uninsured Pennsylvanians.
For now, Pennsylvania health officials have a welcome, new challenge - to
work toward a smooth launch of the statewide smoking ban in the fall.
- - -
Smoking ban
Despite some drawbacks, approved measure represents step toward healthier
Pennsylvania
The Patriot-News (editorial)
Thursday, June 12, 2008
http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1213
222210323730.xml&coll=1
The anti-smoking legislation that will soon become law in Penn sylvania
isn't as tough as some proponents wanted or as restrictive as those in many
other states.
Nonetheless, it's a huge step forward. And if concerns from affected
businesses prove unfounded -- as has largely been the case in other states
and in already smoke-free establishments in Pennsylvania -- future
amendments shouldn't be as difficult as the tortuous path this bill has
followed.
The big breakthrough came when Senate Republicans assured Democratic leader
Robert Mellow they would be receptive to future amendments to allow
Allegheny County and the City of Scranton to implement ordinances they've
already enacted, but which ran into legal difficulty. Philadelphia's
smoking ban was already grandfathered in.
Given the dozen exemptions that will still allow smoking in such venues as
private clubs, bars with limited food sales, and parts of casinos and
hotels, we continue to believe -- out of concern for workers breathing
second-hand smoke -- that the Clean Indoor Air Act should be amended to
give all cities and municipalities the right to adopt ordinances tougher
than the state's.
But the reality, as noted by supporters, is that it's either this bill or
no bill. Furthermore, making 95 percent of public settings and workplaces
in the state smoke-free is a remarkable achievement in the face of stiff
lobbying by Big Tobacco and other influential business interests.
That, in and of itself, is a breath of fresh air.
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