Smoking ban legislation stalls
HARRISBURG – Legislation to ban indoor smoking will have one final hearing in the House next week, but lawmakers who favor the measure are not overly confident the political logjam will be puffed out. The House Health and Human Services Committee has been at a standstill on the issue since June, when it tied in a 14 to 14 vote, preventing a move to the House floor.
The primary issue then was whether to weaken an all-out ban by carving out an exception to small neighborhood bars or allow businesses to apply for smoking permits.
On Tuesday, committee Chairman George Kenney, Jr., a Philadelphia and Montgomery County Republican, said he hasn’t seen much change but would like a final hearing to find out if the committee could resolve remaining issues with the Pennsylvania Tavern Association.
“It’s important this committee take the step to move this bill forward. Can it be done by the end of November? I don’t know,” Kenney said. “I’m not convinced I have the votes until we go back and have heard everything.”
The bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Sue Cornell, a Montgomery County Republican, said she doesn’t see a clear way to get the issue resolved by the end of this term when she will leave office. Cornell, who has served two years, was one of 17 lawmakers who lost in the primary election.
“The tavern owners want exceptions for smaller mom-and-pop operations,” she said. “I would not be happy to see that.”
Cornell said she is confident the issue will live on next year, although no one has stepped forward to carry the torch.
“I don’t think it’s a dead issue if we don’t get it done.”
Montgomery County Sen. Stewart Greenleaf has fought for years to advance an indoor smoking ban but has been unsuccessful in the Senate.
The ban would be scheduled to take effect in January, except bars and taverns would have until 2009. It would not apply to private residences, private social functions, tobacco shops and workplaces that produce tobacco products.
All six states surrounding Pennsylvania have varying forms of smoking bans, either at the state or local level, according to the American Lung Association.
Philadelphia City Council passed a ban and is awaiting a final decision by Mayor John Street today.
Alison Hawkes can be reached at 717-705-6330 or begin ahawkes@calkins-media.com ahawkes@calkins-media.com end
.