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Committee Postpones Smoking Ban Vote

The General Assembly committee appointed to work out a compromise on a public smoking ban has postponed a vote on the ban for the third time.

The committee tried to meet May 12, 2008—after Gov. Ed Rendell issued a threat to veto a watered-down smoking ban—but only three members of the six-member committee attended. After waiting for an hour and a half, the committee adjourned. Committee member Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery) has called the committee's next meetings for June 3 and 4.

It has been reported that four members of the committee support a plan that would allow smoking in bars, private clubs, and parts of casinos. The plan also would pre-empt stronger local smoking ordinances, such as one in Philadelphia, that may be stronger than the state ban. Supporters of a more comprehensive public smoking ban attacked the idea, saying it would not protect workers.

The two remaining members of the committee—Greenleaf and Rep. Mike Gerber (D-Montgomery)—are said to support a stricter ban.

The plan is said to be similar to a smoking ban passed by the Senate last summer. That ban would have allowed smoking in private clubs and portions of casinos, bars, and taverns where food sales are 20 percent or less of gross sales. The House passed a stricter bill that would ban smoking in casinos and bars and allow local governments to enforce stronger bans.

The Pennsylvania Medical Society has advocated for the strongest possible ban on smoking.